Abstract
Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) has the potential to enhance soils quality by improving soil chemical, physical, and biological parameters especially soil organic carbon. objective of this study was to assess the impact of low and high stocking rates (number of animal per hectare) under ICLS on soil quality parameters at the farm scale and the approach of farmers in Getysburg, Roscoe and Selby sites for this system. Study sites located at three different farms that has low stocking rate of cattle grazing. Data from this study showed that low stocking rate under ICLS increased soil organic carbon (SOC) from 20.7 to 28.3 g kg-1, and total nitrogen (TN) from 2.06 to 2.60 g kg-1 at the surface 0-5 cm depth. However, high stocking rates under ICLS decreased the SOC. Low stocking rate under ICLS increased the soil N but it did not impact on soil P significantly. High stocking rate decreased the BG and MBC but low stocking rate increased. High stocking rate increased the soil penetration resistance 2.43 to 2.83 MPa. Further, data showed that the low stocking rate under ICLS improved the soil quality index (SQI) while high stocking rate under ICLS decreased it. This study showed that ICLS with low stocking density can be beneficial in enhancing soil quality at the farm scale.
Highlights
Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) has numerous benefits such as higher crop production, improved soil quality (Russelle et al 2007), enhanced soil structure and fertility, weed control, reduced damage of insects and diseases, and high-quality of feed for the livestock (Bullock 1992; Humphreys 1994; McKenzie et al 1999)
Data showed that low stocking rate increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) while high stocking rate decreased the SOC and TN compared to the non-grazing treatments
Grazing treatments significantly influenced soil N and P, and low and high stocking rate increased the soil N and P content compared to non-grazing treatment, except Gettysburg site
Summary
Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) has numerous benefits such as higher crop production, improved soil quality (Russelle et al 2007), enhanced soil structure and fertility, weed control, reduced damage of insects and diseases, and high-quality of feed for the livestock (Bullock 1992; Humphreys 1994; McKenzie et al 1999). The moderate or low stocking rate which means number of animal per hectare of grazing can contribute to the improvement of soil quality and economic benefits (Savadogo et al 2007; Follett & Reed 2010) This type of grazing can enhance the SOC (Russelle et al 2007), and water infiltration (Hiernaux et al 1999).
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