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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #380522
Research Project: Development of Management Strategies for Livestock Grazing, Disturbance and Climate Variation for the Northern Plains

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Title: Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains

Author
item Reinhart, Kurt
item WOROGO, HILAIRE - University Of Parakou
item Rinella, Matthew - Matt
item Vermeire, Lance

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2021
Publication Date: 8/14/2021
Citation: Reinhart, K.O., Worogo, H., Rinella, M.J., Vermeire, L.T. 2021. Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 79:22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.07.006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.07.006

Interpretive Summary: Problem- Managing grasslands to sequester carbon is of global importance, but effects of grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks remain uncertain. Accomplishment- We determined that areas rested from grazing had 12% smaller SOC stocks than areas that were annually grazed in the Northern Great Plains.

Technical Abstract: Managing grasslands to sequester carbon is of global importance, but effects of grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks remain uncertain. We quantified effects of livestock grazing (grazed or not for nine to 26 years) and soil texture on SOC stocks (kg × m-2) in a temperate grassland. We also quantified the effects of livestock grazing on the components of SOC stocks (i.e. SOC concentration, bulk density). Percent sand explained considerable variation in SOC stock (r2= 0.45 to 0.59). In addition, SOC stocks were 12% less in areas rested from livestock grazing than annually grazed. Soil carbon concentrations (%) were also 10% less in rested than grazed areas. Bulk density was 2% less in areas rested from grazing, but bulk density was greater at sites with longer periods of rest. We also detected a grazing treatment and rest duration interaction indicating that bulk density differences between grazing treatments tended to be greater at sites with longer periods of rest. Compared to no grazing, moderate grazing tended to increase SOC stocks and concentrations. Although compaction (i.e. increase in bulk density) is generally regarded as an indicator of declining soil health, some compaction may help reduce mineralization of SOC and ultimately increase SOC stocks. We discuss methodological improvements needed for a next generation of grazingland experiments to better resolve how best to manage livestock and sequester carbon.