Influence of Management on Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Northern Mixed-Grass Rangeland

Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics have been variable and inconsistent among the ecosystems studied (Smoliak et al., 1972; Bauer et al., 1987; Milchunas and Lauenroth, 1993; Frank et al., 1995). Studies have shown that grazing affects SOC levels, either through changes in plant community (Coupland et al., 1960; Dormaar and Willms, 1990; Coupland, 1992) or by other more subtle and less discernable responses such as litter accumulation and decomposition rates, changes in chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM), amount and quality of root exudates, increased roo