Sustainable Management of Nutrients in Forage-Based Pasture Soils: Effect of Animal Congregation Sites

Background, Aim and Scope: Grazing animals have a dominant effect on the movement and utilization of nutrients through the soil and plant system, and thus on the fertility of pasture soils. Grazing can accelerate and alter the timing of nutrient transfers, and increase the amount of nutrients cycled...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of soils and sediments 2006-10, Vol.6 (4), p.249-253
Main Authors: Sigua, G.C, Coleman, S.W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aggregation behavior
Agricultural research
Beef cattle
Cattle
defecation
Environmental perception
feces
feed troughs
Fertility
Grazing
grazing management
Leaching
Nitrogen
Nutrient cycles
nutrient management
Organic carbon
Overland flow
Pasture
pasture management
pastures
Phosphorus
shade
soil
soil nutrients
soil organic carbon
soil pollution
Soils
Spatial distribution
Sustainability management
urination
urine
Vegetation
Water resources
Water shortages
water troughs
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Summary:Background, Aim and Scope: Grazing animals have a dominant effect on the movement and utilization of nutrients through the soil and plant system, and thus on the fertility of pasture soils. Grazing can accelerate and alter the timing of nutrient transfers, and increase the amount of nutrients cycled from plant to soil. Long periods, position of shade, and water resources for grazing cattle can influence the spatial distribution of soil biochemical properties including soil organic carbon (C), total extractable inorganic nitrogen (TEIN), and Melich 1 extractable total phosphorus (TP). The objective of this study is to test whether cattle congregation sites typical on most Florida ranches, such as mineral feeders, water troughs, and shade areas are more nutrient-rich and may contribute more nutrients to surface and groundwater supply than in other pasture locations under Florida conditions. Materials and Methods: Baseline soil samples around and beneath three congregations sites in established (>10 yr) grazed beef cattle pastures at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subtropical Agricultural Research Station (STARS), Brooksville, FL, were collected in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Results: The levels of soil TEIN and TP were significantly (p
ISSN:1614-7480
1439-0108
1614-7480
DOI:10.1065/jss2006.09.182