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Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sutie Xu

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 E J Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Sindhu Jagadamma

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 E J Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Jason Rowntree

    (Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

Abstract

Grazing land ecosystem services including food provision and climate regulation are greatly influenced by soil health. This paper provides a condensed review of studies on the response of three important soil properties related to soil health to grazing land management: water infiltration, carbon (C) sequestration, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Impacts of management strategies that are often used in grazing lands are discussed in this review including vegetation composition, grazing methods, and other factors such as fertilizer use and climatic conditions. In general, proper grazing management such as continuous moderate grazing and rotational/deferred-rotational grazing with low or moderate stocking rates tends to benefit all three soil properties. Water infiltration can usually be increased with full vegetation cover, increased soil C, and aggregate stability, or be decreased with greater soil bulk density. Adoption of highly productive plant species with faster turnover rates can promote soil C sequestration by increasing C input. However, excessive C removal from ecosystems due to overgrazing or improper soil fertilization management results in higher C loss, which can have detrimental effects on soil C sequestration. Proper stocking rate and a balanced manure/fertilizer management was found to be critical for enhancing NUE. Grazing land management sometimes simultaneously influence the three soil properties. Techniques that can increase soil C such as introduction of high productive plant species can often promote water infiltration and soil nitrogen (N). Some other practices such as adoption of N fertilizer may enhance C sequestration while being detrimental to NUE. An integrated management plan for a specific location or farm should be considered carefully to improve soil health as well as ecosystem production. This review provides farmers and policy makers the current state of general knowledge on how health-related soil processes are affected by grazing land management.

Suggested Citation

  • Sutie Xu & Sindhu Jagadamma & Jason Rowntree, 2018. "Response of Grazing Land Soil Health to Management Strategies: A Summary Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4769-:d:190463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonathan Sanderman & Jodie Reseigh & Michael Wurst & Mary-Anne Young & Jenet Austin, 2015. "Impacts of Rotational Grazing on Soil Carbon in Native Grass-Based Pastures in Southern Australia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Park, Jong-Yoon & Ale, Srinivasulu & Teague, W. Richard, 2017. "Simulated water quality effects of alternate grazing management practices at the ranch and watershed scales," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 360(C), pages 1-13.
    3. Teixeira, R.F.M. & Domingos, T. & Costa, A.P.S.V. & Oliveira, R. & Farropas, L. & Calouro, F. & Barradas, A.M. & Carneiro, J.P.B.G., 2011. "Soil organic matter dynamics in Portuguese natural and sown rainfed grasslands," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(4), pages 993-1001.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chowdhury, Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed & Wang, Tong & Jin, Hailong & Smart, Alexander J., 2020. "Exploring the Determinants of Perceived Benefits of Rotational Grazing in the U. S. Great Plains," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304487, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Hannah Gosnell & Kerry Grimm & Bruce E. Goldstein, 2020. "A half century of Holistic Management: what does the evidence reveal?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 849-867, September.

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