Soil Compaction in Eastern Nebraska After 25 Years of Cattle Grazing Management and Weed Control

Abstract

The effect of 25 years of weed control and grazing management on several physical properties of surface soil was measured. Bulk density of continuously grazed plots was 1.22 g/cm3 in the top 7.6 cm of soil as compared to 1.14 g/cm3 on deferred and rotationally grazed plots, and 1.02 g/cm3 on plots protected from grazing. Saturated hydraulic conductivities of 7.6 cm top soil cores from the protected plots were four times higher than from the two grazed plots. Those for warm-season grasses averaged 28.3 cm/hour, whereas mowed and smooth brome plots averaged 14.8 cm/hour. The value for the continuously grazed mowed plots was 3.0 cm/hour. The effect of long-term weed control and grazing management was reflected in the physical properties of soil which, in turn, influenced forage production by the increased water entry into soil.