Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands

M. Abdalla; A. Hastings; D. R. Chadwick; D. L. Jones; C. D. Evans; M. B. Jones; R. M. Rees; P. Smith

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.023

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Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands

M. Abdalla, A. Hastings, D. R. Chadwick, D. L. Jones, C. D. Evans, M. B. Jones, R. M. Rees and P. Smith

Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, Vol.253, pp.62-81

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.023

PMCID: PMC5727677

PMID: 29398743

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Abstract

Agriculture

Agriculture, Multidisciplinary

Ecology

Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Livestock grazing intensity (GI) is thought to have a major impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and soil quality indicators in grassland agroecosystems. To critically investigate this, we conducted a global review and meta-analysis of 83 studies of extensive grazing, covering 164 sites across different countries and climatic zones. Unlike previous published reviews we normalized the SOC and total nitrogen (TN) data to a 30 cm depth to be compatible with IPCC guidelines. We also calculated a normalized GI and divided the data into four main groups depending on the regional climate (dry warm, DW; dry cool, DC; moist warm, MW; moist cool, MC). Our results show that taken across all climatic zones and GIs, grazing (below the carrying capacity of the systems) results in a decrease in SOC storage, although its impact on SOC is climate-dependent. When assessed for different regional climates, all GI levels increased SOC stocks under the MW climate (+7.6%) whilst there were reductions under the MC climate (-19%). Under the DW and DC climates, only the low (+5.8%) and low to medium (+16.1%) grazing intensities, respectively, were associated with increased SOC stocks. High GI significantly increased SOC for C4-dominated grassland compared to C3-dominated grassland and C3-C4 mixed grasslands. It was also associated with significant increases in TN and bulk density but had no effect on soil pH. To protect grassland soils from degradation, we recommend that GI and management practices should be optimized according to climate region and grassland type (C3, C4 or C3-C4 mixed).

Details

Title: Critical review of the impacts of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon storage and other soil quality indicators in extensively managed grasslands
Authors/Creators: M. Abdalla - University of Aberdeen
A. Hastings - University of Aberdeen
D. R. Chadwick - Bangor University
D. L. Jones - Bangor University
C. D. Evans - Bangor University
M. B. Jones - Supreme Council Of Health
R. M. Rees - Scotlands Rural Coll SRUC Edinburgh, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, Midlothian, Scotland
P. Smith - University of Aberdeen
Publication Details: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, Vol.253, pp.62-81
Publisher: Elsevier
Number of pages: 20
Grant note: BB/N013468/1 / Newton Fund via UK BBSRC/NERC ceh020015 / Natural Environment Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) NE/P019455/1 / Soils-R-GGREAT BB/N013468/1 / BBSRC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) NE/M016900/1 / U-GRASS NE/M019713/1 / ADVENT BB/N013484/1 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Scottish Government's Strategic Research Programme NE/M016900/1 / NERC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) NE/M021327/1 / Belmont Forum/FACCE-JPI DEVIL project Ser Cymru LCEE-NRN project, Climate-Smart Grass
Identifiers: 991005560327807891
Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.45 Soil Science; 3.45.112 Soil Carbon Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Agriculture, Multidisciplinary; Ecology; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology