FORAGES AND PASTURES SYMPOSIUM: Improving soil health and productivity on grasslands using managed grazing of livestock.

摘要: Beyond grazing, managed grasslands provide ecological services that may offer economic incentives for multifunctional use. Increasing biodiversity of plant communities maximize net primary production by optimizing utilization available light, water, and nutrient resources; enhance stability in response to climatic stress; reduce invasion exotic species; increase soil OM; leaching or loading surface runoff; wildlife habitat. Strategically grazing cool-season pastures creating disturbance through herbivory, treading, cycling, seed dispersal. Soil OM will carbon sequestration water-holding capacity soils is greater grazed than nongrazed land used row crop hay production. However, results studies evaluating the effects different management systems on are limited inconsistent. Although roots organic residues pasture forages create macropores compaction, has increased bulk density penetration resistance regardless stocking rates systems. But duration rest periods compaction need further evaluation. Because vegetative cover dissipates energy falling raindrops stems tillers rate water flow, managing maintain adequate minimize treading infiltration both upland riparian locations. Through diversity community with alterations habitat structure, can be developed insect pollinators. provided grasslands, environmental responses controlled variations climate, soil, landscape position, resulting considerable spatial temporal variation responses. Furthermore, a single system not livestock productivity each potential grasslands. Therefore, goals must integrated identify optimal system.