Long-Term Grazing Effects on Fescue Grassland Soils

Abstract

Very heavy grazing of fescue grassland range at Stavely, Alberta, compared to light grazing, changed the color of the Ah horizon from black to dark brown and the pH from 5.7 to 6.2, reduced the percent organic matter, reduced percent total P but increased NaHCO3-soluble P, and increased soil temperature but decreased percent soil moisture. Trends indicated that soil of the very heavily grazed field was being transformed to a soil characteristic of a drier microclimate.