Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
9/22/04
Contacts:
Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Agronomy, (515) 294-1923, malkaisi@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Pasture -- Its Role in Conservation Management
AMES, Iowa -- Pasture is a longtime part of Iowa agriculture and a critical component of the state's agricultural landscape. Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension agronomist, says that pasture management contributes to conservation and environmental planning in several ways, including carbon sequestration, improved soil quality and better water quality.
"Carbon sequestration is a leading issue in agriculture right now, and pasture is a natural carbon storage facility," says Al-Kaisi. "Carbon storage can be maximized in pasture due to the stability of the cropping system - mostly grasses."
There are several pasture management practices that facilitate carbon sequestration
such as better management of timberland, limiting livestock access to fragile
timberland and riparian areas and managing those areas where hooves can expose
soil. When used properly, many farmers will notice that carbon sequestration
practices also lead to an improvement in production, environmental quality
and long-term sustainability."
Another pasture management objective is improving soil's physical properties
such as soil structure, infiltration rate, organic matter and the soil environment.
Al-Kaisi says that heavy animal traffic and mismanaged grazing exerts constant
pressure on soil quality. "In the end, it can negatively impact almost
all positive soil quality characteristics."
"A rotational grazing management system allows soil and vegetation time to recover from grazing, and eases the pressure on the soil's physical properties, rebuilding soil quality," Al-Kaisi says. "There are many characteristics and indicators of soil quality, including bulk density, soil pores, water-holding capacity and infiltration rates, overall soil tilth and levels of organic matter and beneficial soil organisms. When soil quality improves, pasture health and productivity improves as well."
He adds that another big pasture problem is giving livestock access to streams, and the implications that the practice has on water quality. "It may be convenient, but it can also contributes to many problems. Aside from the issues of livestock health and manure entering streams, providing animals access to stream banks and stream channels leads to instability in the stream bank. The action of animal hooves on soil disturb the soil and cause compaction. Soil aggregates and associated structural units can't withstand the pressure cattle exert for prolonged periods. Heavy hoof traffic in wet areas or in areas with sandy soils can result in exposed soils, and there is tremendous potential for soil erosion as well as significant losses of organic matter, sediment and nutrient losses from bare soils."
Every pasture owner needs to consider its impact on soil. Carbon storage, soil quality and water quality are all important in any operation's overall conservation management plan.
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Funding support provided by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through Cooperative Agreement No. 74-6114-10-03.
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