Improvement of Saline-Sodic Grassland Soils Properties by Rotational Grazing in Argentina

Abstract

We investigated the effectiveness of rotational and permanent grazing exclosure periods for improving topsoil quality in three commercial farms devoted to cattle breeding in sodic grassland (halophytic steppe) soils of the Flooding Pampa of Argentina. We compared two plots under continuous grazing (C1-C2) with two plots under more than 8 yr of rotational grazing management (R1-R2) and two adjacent plots under permanent grazing exclosure for more than 8 (E1) and 4 (E2) yr. Periodic and permanent grazing exclosure periods caused significant (P < 0.05) and progressive increases in topsoil organic carbon content and organic carbon stock (0 − 20 cm; from 24 to 61 Mg ha− 1) as follows: (C1 = C2) < (R1 = R2 = E2) < E1 plots. Topsoil physical properties (bulk density, structural instability, and bearing capacity) and salinity were higher (P < 0.05) in C1 and C2 than in the other plots, while infiltration rate was higher in the oldest exclosure (E1) than in the other plots. Topsoil pH decreased from C1-C2 plots (9.5 − 9.9) to R1-R2 plots (7.3 − 8.2) to E1-E2 plots (6.5 − 7.5), while SAR was highest in C1-C2 and lowest in E1 plots. We propose a conceptual model leading to soil recovery in this halophytic steppe community, triggered by organic carbon accumulation induced by grazing management. Short-time grazing exclusion periods (i.e., rotational grazing) are a plausible and low-cost management option to be recommended to the farmers in this highly restrictive environment.