ARS | Publication request: OPTIMIZATION OF GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR WATERSHED SEDIMENT CONTROL 1812

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Modeling and Software
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 10, 2006
Publication Date: May 10, 2006
Repository URL: http://www.iemss.org/iemss2006/sessions/all.html
Citation: Duan, Y., Heilman, P., Guertin, D.P. 2006. Optimization of grazing management for watershed sediment control. In: Voinov, A., Jakeman, A., Rizzoli, A. (eds). Proceedings of the iEMSs Third Biennial Meeting: "Summit on Environmental Modelling and Software". International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Burlington, USA, July 2006. CD ROM.

Technical Abstract: Improper grazing could increase erosion and become a major source of nonpoint source pollution. Grazing management is important in maintaining vegetation cover, which consequently impact erosion and sediment yield. This paper used a representative ranch model to define grazing management from an economic perspective. The model maximizes the profit of a representative ranch that can utilize all grazing lands in a watershed with constraints on forage resources, sustainable utilization, production technology and sediment yield control objectives. A case study for the Walnut Gulch Watershed showed that a shift of spatial distributions of optimal stocking rate with increasing sediment control objectives.