Abstract
Background and aims
The Karoo biomes of South Africa are major feed resources for livestock farming, yet soil nutrient depletion and degradation is a major problem. The objective of this study was to assess impacts of long-term (>75 years) grazing during spring (SPG), summer (SUG), winter (WG) and exclosure (non-grazed control) treatments on soil nutrients, penetration resistance and infiltration tests.
Methods
A soil sampling campaign was carried out to collect soil to a depth of 60 cm to analyse bulk density, soil physical and chemical parameters as well as soil compaction and infiltration.
Results
Generally, grazing treatments reduced soil organic C (SOC) stocks and C:N ratios, and modified soil properties. There was higher SOC stock (0.128 Mg ha−1 yr−1) in the exclosure than in the SPG (0.096 Mg ha−1 yr−1), SUG (0.099 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and WG (0.105 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The C:N ratios exhibited similar pattern to that of C. From the grazing treatments, the WG demonstrated 7 to 10 % additional SOC stock over the SPG and SUG, respectively.
Conclusions
Short period animal exclusion could be an option to be considered to improve plant nutrients in sandy soils of South Africa. However, this may require a policy environment which supports stock exclusion from such areas vulnerable to land degradation, nutrient and C losses by grazing-induced vegetation and landscape changes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ampleman MD, Kerri CM, David FA (2014) Differential soil organic carbon storage at forb and grass-dominated plant communities, 33 years after tallgrass prairie restoration. Plant Soil 374:899–913
Bagchi S, Mark ER (2010) Introduced grazers can restrict potential soil carbon sequestration through impacts on plant community composition. Ecol Lett 13:959–968
Barger NN, Ojima DS, Belnap J, Wang SP, Wang YF, Chen ZZ (2004) Changes in plant functional groups, litter quality, and soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization with sheep grazing in Inner Mongolian grassland. Rangel Ecol Manag 57:613–619
Beukes PC, Cowling RM (2003) Non-selective grazing impacts on soil-properties of the Nama Karoo. J Range Manag 56:547–552
Bouwman LA, Arts WBM (2000) Effects of soil compaction on the relationships between nematodes, grass production and soil physical properties. Appl Soil Ecol 14:213–222
Briske DD, Derner JD, Brown JR, Fuhlendorf SD, Teague WR, Havstad KM, Gillen RL, Ash AJ, Willms WD (2008) Rotational grazing on rangelands: reconciliation of perception and experimental evidence. Rangel Ecol Manag 61:3–17
Chan KY, Heenan DP, So HB (2003) Sequestration of carbon and changes in soil quality under conservation tillage on light-textured soils in Australia: a review. Aust J Exp Agric 43:325–334
Cheng J, Wu GL, Zhao LP, Li Y, Li W, Cheng JM (2011) Cumulative effects of 20-year exclusion of livestock grazing on above and belowground biomass of typical steppe communities in arid areas of the Loess Plateau, China. Plant Soil Environ 57:40–44
Derner JD, Schuman GE (2007) Carbon sequestration and rangelands: a synthesis of land management and precipitation effects. J Soil Water Conserv 62:77–85
Derner JD, Boutton TW, Briske DD (2006) Grazing and ecosystem carbon storage in the North American Great Plains. Plant Soil 280:77–90
Donkor NT, Gedir JV, Hudson RJ, Bork EW, Chanasyk DS, Naeth MA (2002) Impacts of grazing systems on soil compaction and pasture production in Alberta. Can J Soil Sci 82:1–8
Du Preez CC, Cornie WV, Huyssteen P, Mnkeni NS (2011) Land use and soil organic matter in South Africa 1: a review on spatial variability and the influence of rangeland stock production. S Afr J Sci. doi:10.4102/sajs.v107i5/6.354
Du Toit JCO (2010) An analysis of long-term daily rainfall data from Grootfontein, 1916 to 2008. Agriculture 10:24–36
Du Toit GN, Snyman HA, Malan PJ (2011) Physical impact of sheep grazing on arid Karoo subshrub/grass rangeland, South Africa. S Afr J Anim Sci 41:280–287. doi:10.4314/sajas.v41i3.11
Evans CRW, Krzic M, Broersma K, Thompson DJ (2012) Long-term grazing effects on soil properties in Southern British Columbia. Can J Soil Sci 92:685–693
Franzluebbers AJ (2005) Soil organic carbon sequestration and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the South eastern USA. Soil Tillage Res 83:120–147
Hamza MA, Anderson WK (2005) Soil compaction in cropping systems: a review in nature, causes and possible solutions. Soil Tillage Res 82:121–145
Kotzé E, Sandhage-Hofmann A, Meine JA, du Preez CC, Amelung W (2013) Rangeland management impacts on the properties of clayey soils along grazing gradients in the semi-arid grassland biome of South Africa. J Arid Environ 97:220–229
Lal R (2000) Carbon sequestration in dry lands. Ann Arid Zone 39:1–10
Lal R (2002) Soil carbon dynamics in crop and rangeland. Environ Pollut 116:353–362
Liu T, Nan Z, Hou F (2012) Grazing intensity effects on soil nitrogen mineralization in semi-arid grassland on the Loess Plateau of northern China. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 91:67–75
McSherry ME, Ritchie ME (2013) Effects of grazing on grassland soil carbon: a global review. Glob Chang Biol 19:1347–1357
Mikhailova EA, Bryant RB, Cherney DJR, Post CJ, Vassenev II (2000) Botanical composition, soil and forage quality under different management regimes in Russian grasslands. Agric Ecosyst Environ 80:213–226
Murphy CA, Foster BL, Ramspott ME, Price KP (2004) Grassland management effects on soil bulk density. T Kansas Acad Sci 107:45–54
Neff JC, Reynolds RL, Belnap J, Lamothe P (2005) Multi-decade impact of grazing on soil physical and biogeochemical properties in the southeast Utah. Ecol Appl 15:87–95
Oenema O, Wrage N, Veltof GL, Van Groenigen JW, Dolfing J, Kuikman PJ (2005) Trends in global nitrous oxide emissions from animal production systems. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 72:51–65
Piñeiro G, Paruelo JM, Oesterheld M, Jobbágy EG (2010) Pathways of grazing effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen. Rangel Ecol Manag 63:109–119
Reeder JD, Schuman GE, Morgan JA, Lecain DR (2004) Response of organic and inorganic carbon and nitrogen to long-term grazing of the shortgrass steppe. Environ Manag 33:485–495
SAS (Statistical Analysis System) (2008) User’s guide. SAS/STAT® 9.2, Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
Six J, Elliott ET, Paustia K (2000) Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Biol Biochem 32:2099–2103
Smet M, Ward D (2006) Soil quality gradients around water points under different management systems in a semi-arid savanna, South Africa. J Arid Environ 64:251–269
Soil Survey Staff, Soil Taxonomy (1999) A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Agriculture Handbook No 436, 2nd edn., U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington D.C
Steffens M, Kolbl A, Totsche KU, Kogel-Knabner I (2008) Grazing effects on soil chemical and physical properties in a semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia (PR China). Geoderma 143:63–72
The Non-Affiliated Soil Analysis Work Committee (1990) Handbook of standard soil testing methods for advisory purposes. Soil Science of South Africa, Pretoria
Wilson BR, Koen TB, Barnes P, Ghosh S, King D (2012) Soil carbon and related soil properties along a soil type and land-use intensity gradient, New South Wales, Australia. Soil Use Manag 27:437–447
Witt GB, Michelle V, Michael N, Beetona IB, Menziesc RJS, Neal W (2011) Carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration potential of semi-arid mulgalands of Australia interpreted from long-term grazing exclosures. Agric Ecosyst Environ 141:108–118
Acknowledgments
We thank two anonymous reviewers, Prof Paxie WC Chirwa and Gaël Alvarez, for their constructive suggestions and comments on this paper. Funding was provided by the University of Pretoria, Department of Science and Technology and the European Communities, 7th framework program under the grant agreement No. 266018, ANIMALCHANGE project.
Funding
This was funded by European community, 7th framework program, Animal-change project (grant number 266018) and DST (Department of Science and Technology), South Africa.
Conflict of interest
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Elizabeth M Baggs.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Talore, D.G., Tesfamariam, E.H., Hassen, A. et al. Long-term impacts of season of grazing on soil carbon sequestration and selected soil properties in the arid Eastern Cape, South Africa. Plant Soil 397, 317–329 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2625-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2625-z