Sediment Production as Influenced by Livestock Grazing in the Texas Rolling Plains

Abstract

The influence of livestock on sediment production was evaluated on a Clay Flat range site with shrub canopy areas, and midgrass and shortgrass interspace areas in the Rolling Plains near Throckmorton, Texas. Sediment production in the shrub canopy areas was similar across grazing treatments of heavy and moderate stocking, continuous grazing; rested and grazed deferred-rotation; rested and grazed high intensity, low frequency (HILF); and two livestock exclosures which had not been grazed for 20 years. Sediment production from the shortgrass interspace area was similar for all grazing treatments except from the heavily stocked, continuously grazed pasture, where sediment production exceeded that of the rested HILF treatment. The midgrass interspace sediment production for the heavily stocked, continuously grazed treatment exceeded that of the deferred-rotation treatments and the exclosures. Likewise, sediment production for the grazed HILF treatment was greater than that for the rested deferred-rotation treatment and exclosure. Soil and vegetation variables which significantly influenced sediment production included aggregate stability, organic matter content, mulch, standing crop, bulk density, and ground cover.