Grazing

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Adaptive multi-paddock grazing enhances soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and stabilization through mineral association in southeastern U.S. grazing lands (2021)

Authors: Mosier, S., Apfelbaum, S., Byck, P., Calderon, F., Teague, R., Thompson, R., & Cotrufo, M. F.

Publication Details: Journal of Environmental Management, 288, 112409-.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Grassland soils have the potential to store significant amounts of SOC. Adaptive Multi-paddock grazing (AMP) can potentially enhance capacity of CO2 storage and pasture productivity compared to its Conventional Grazing (CG) counterparts. This study investigates the difference between SOC and N accumulation potential with side-by-side farms with two grazing management systems.

Soil carbon dynamics under different cropping and pasture management in temperate Australia: Results of three long-term experiments (2011)

Authors: Chan, K., Conyers, M., Li, G., Helyar, K., Poile, G., Oates, A., & Barchia, I.

Publication Details: Soil Research (Collingwood, Vic.), 49(4), 320-328.

Executive Summary/Abstract

With comprehensive results in SOC accumulation due to differing management practices for pasture and tillage systems and very few long-term trials and effects based in Australia, this long-term trial offers more significant trends to give insights into various management practices in cropping.

Soil carbon sequestration to depth in response to long-term phosphorus fertilization of grazed pasture (2019)

Authors: Coonan, E. C., Richardson, A. E., Kirkby, C. A., Kirkegaard, J. A., Amidy, M. R., Simpson, R. J., & Strong, C. L.

Publication Details: Geoderma, 338, 226-235.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Most studies into P inputs and the relationship to SOC accumulation only measure soil to depths of 20 em. This study investigates P inputs, higher stocking rates and SOC accumulation down to 1m. Long-term benefits  were noticed for SOC accumulation to depths of 60 em.

Soil organic carbon stock in grasslands: Effects of inorganic fertilizers, liming and grazing in different climate settings (2018)

Authors: Eze, S., Palmer, S. M., & Chapman, P. J.

Publication Details: Journal of Environmental Management, 223, 74–84.

Executive Summary/Abstract

With many inconsistent findings in multiple meta-analyses and original research on the fate of SOC from grazing, fertilisers and liming, this meta-analysis aims to find a definitive answer as to how grazing impacts soils(and in particular SOC), taking in the larger perspective of climate, soils and other factors beyond management into account.

Annual and perennial crop composition impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics at two different depths (2022)

Authors: Means, M., Crews, T., & Souza, L.

Publication Details: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 37(5),437-444.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

It is understood that tillage influences the fluxes of N and C in the soil. To reduce the effects of tillage, some farmers have turned to perennial grain crops such as Kernza. There is little information about how these crops affect N and S in the soil.

Net effect of liming on soil organic carbon stocks: A review (2015)

Authors: Paradelo, R., Virto, I., & Chenu, C.

Publication Details: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 202, 98–107.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Lime is used to correct the pH in the soil to increase plant growth potential. The addition of lime has several effects on soil health. Some of these effects either increase or decrease SOC stocks: an increase in SOC resulting from higher plant productivity, a decrease in SOC stocks resulting from increased organic matter mineralisation, and an increase in SOC stocks due to improved soil physical attributes. These effects do not affect SOC stocks equally. This paper explores the net change of SOC stocks with these factors in mind.

Do agrosystems change soil carbon and nutrient stocks in a semiarid environment? (2022)

Authors: Santana, M. da S., Andrade, E.de, Sampaio, E. de S., Ferreira, T., Salviano, A., Silva, D. da, Cunha, T., & Giongo, V.

Publication Details: Journal of Arid Environments, 201, 104747–.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

Ecological processes and nutrient cycling are affected due to land use change from native forests to agricultural systems. This paper investigates the changing dynamic of soil nutrients from land use change from native forests to agricultural systems.

On-farm compost: a useful tool to improve soil quality under intensive farming systems (2016)

Authors: Scotti, R., Pane, C., Spaccini, R., Palese, A. M., Piccolo,A., Celano, G., & Zaccardelli, M.

Publication Details: Applied Soil Ecology: a Section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 107, 13–23.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Municipal compost is considered essential for removing organic waste from general waste. On-farm compost is a way to repurpose waste created from the farm. Both composts can be used as a source of fertility for the soil. This research investigates the difference in soil health after adding municipal compost or on-farm compost.

Changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and sulphur content as influenced by liming and nitrogen fertilization of three energy crops (2017)

Authors: Šiaudinis, G., Liaudanskiene, I., & Slepetiene, A.

Publication Details: Icelandic Agricultural Sciences (IAS)

Executive Summary/Abstract

In acidic soils, lime can be used to raise pH. This article investigates other effects on soil health, especially TOC, TN, Total S and C:N ratio in three different bioenergy crops. This research was completed in acidic moraine loam in Lithuania.

Effects of no-tillage and liming amendment combination on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization (2019)

Authors: Vazquez, E., Benito, M., Espejo, R., & Teutscherova, N.

Publication Details: European Journal of Soil Biology, 93, 103090–.

Executive Summary/Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between traditional tillage (TT), no-till (NT), liming and no liming onTOC and TN, C and N mineralisation and F:B.

Quantifying direct yield benefits of soil carbon increases from cover cropping (2023)

Authors: Vendig, I., Guzman, A., De La Cerda, G., Esquivel, K., C.Mayer, A., Ponisio, L., & Bowles T.

Publication Details: Nat Sustain

Executive Summary/Abstract 

The benefits of accumulating carbon may lead to soil health and crop yield increases. This article investigates the parameters of yield and SOC increases from incorporating cover cropping into rotations.

Remineralizing soils? The agricultural usage of silicate rock powders: A review (2022)

Authors: Swoboda, P., Döring, T. F. & Hamer, M.

Publication Details: The Science of the Total Environment, 807(Pt 3),150976–150976.

Executive Summary/Abstract

In tropical climates, soil nutrient depletion and the cost of fertilisers are limiting factors to growing food crops. Both macro and micronutrients are difficult to afford and access and are highly leachable when added to tropical soils. Finely ground silicate rock powders may be one solution. As a slow-release fertiliser and soil ameliorant, this solution has mixed reviews regarding its effectiveness. This article aims to delve deeper into the factors influencing its success and notable benefits.

Does cover crop grazing damage soils and reduce crop yields? (2020)

Authors:Blanco‐Canqui, H., Drewnoski, M. E., MacDonald, J. C., Redfearn, D. D., Parsons, J., Lesoing, G. W., & Williams, T.

Publication Details: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 3(1).

Executive Summary/Abstract

It is understood that continuous grazing on pastures leads to pasture and soil health declines. If other grazing methodologies affect pasture and soil health differently, can the same be reported for cover crop grazing? How do grazing cover crops and the resultant reduced ground cover affect the capacity of the cover crop to reduce erosion and other soil capacities? Is there a net benefit for the biomass from the cover crops and the dung and urine returned to the soil? What is the net benefit for soil health and increased soil C obtained from roots remaining in the soil?

Grazing cover crops in continuous corn production in east-central Mississippi (2023)

Authors: Rushing, B., Waddell, K., Lyles, J., and Lemus, R.

Publication Details: Agronomy Journal, 115(4), 1653–1665.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

Cover crops can be designed for quality forage for grazing animals in low-growth periods (especially in cold and wet conditions). Cover crops can enhance soil health (increases in SOC and Nitrogen). Combining designed cover crops for forage and soil health could increase the productivity of the farming system by stacking functions without reducing the yield of commodity crops.

Grazing management for soil carbon in Australia: A review (2023)

Authors: McDonald, S. E., Badgery, W., Clarendon, S., Orgill, S., Sinclair, K., Meyer, R., Butchart, D. B., Eckard, R., Rowlings, D., Grace, P., Doran-Browne, N., Harden, S., Macdonald, A., Wellington, M., Pachas, A. N. A., Eisner, R., Amidy, M., & Harrison, M. T.

Publication Details: Journal of Environmental Management, 347, 119146–119146.

Executive Summary/Abstract

If grazing is to become carbon neutral by 2030, as per the Australian red meat industry’s target, carbon accounting must be as accurate as possible to decrease the chance of overestimating or underestimating the amount of soil organic carbon sequestration attributed to grazing.

Deep soil inventories reveal that impacts of cover crops and compost on soil carbon sequestration differ in surface and subsurface soils (2019)

Authors: Tautges, N. E., Chiartas, J. L., Gaudin, A. C. M., O’Geen,A. T., Herrera, I., & Scow, K. M.

Publication Details: Global Change Biology, 25(11), 3753–3766.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

Studies in cover cropping, compost and manure additions and perennial crops and pastures mostly report increases in SOC. Broad assumptions in research have been made as to the depth to which these management practices influence SOC.

Integrating Winter annual forages into a no-till corn silage system (2009)

Authors: Faé, G., Sulc, R., Barker, D., Dick, R., Eastridge, M., & Lorenz, N.

Publication Details: Agronomy Journal, 101(5), 1286–1296.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

It is understood that 30-50% of the SOC pool in the U.S. has been depleted. To replenish this loss, it has been recommended for cropping to implement no-tillage and incorporate winter cover crops to increase the ecosystem services that come with increasing and mitigating SOC losses. Adoption of these practices has been limited primarily due to a lack of economic incentive to implement and possibly change of management difficulties.