Soil Bulk Density as Influenced by Grazing Intensity and Soil Type on a Shortgrass Prairie Site

Soil bulk densities were measured on 2 soil groups under 3 grazing intensities on shortgrass prairie in northeastern Colorado. On coarse-textured soils, soil bulk density means of the 3 grazing treatments were not significantly different. On fine-textured soils, average bulk density in the heavily grazed pasture was 13.4% and 11.8% higher than the lightly grazed and moderately grazed pastures, respectively. For both soil groups combined, bulk density on the heavily grazed pasture was only 6% higher than on the lightly grazed pasture. A significant grazing intensity × soil texture interaction was present, indicating that soil compaction from grazing occurred primarily on fine-textured soils on the study site.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202