Soil macronutrient distribution in rotationally stocked kikuyugrass paddocks with short and long grazing periods

Abstract

Grazing management affects plant growth and animal production and it may influence the redistribution and cycling of nutrients excreted in dung and urine. Unfortunately, the soil component of pasture systems has received little attention in most grazing trials, and when considered has been evaluated on pastures smaller than those used commercially. A naturalized kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.) grassland was grazed by heifers (Bos taurus) for 2 yr in Experiment 1 to determine the effects of two rotational stocking methods (short vs. long grazing periods) on soil distribution of extractable nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) in 4‐ha paddocks with natural shade. Additionally, in Experiment 2, kikuyugrass‐greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum Urb.) paddocks were used to evaluate the effect of distance from waterers on soil nutrient distribution in rotationally stocked paddocks (long grazing periods) without shade in a cooler, higher elevation, environment. In Experiment 1, soil N, P, and K distribution did not differ between lengths of grazing period when assessed using a zonal soil sampling procedure with zones based on distance from shade and water sources. These nutrients, and in particular K, accumulated within 15 m of shade, but did not accumulate significantly around waterers. In Experiment 2, zonal soil sampling indicated that P, Mg, and especially K, accumulated within 15 m of the waterer. In both studies, extractable K data collected via a grid sampling regime and contour maps constructed from these data supported, in general, the conclusions made using zonal sampling. It is suggested that in this subtropical environment the magnitude of excretal N, P, and K accumulation is greater around shade than waterers, and that in paddocks without shade substantial amounts of P and K accumulate near the waterer. As with small paddocks/pastures, zonal soil sampling appears to be a practical sampling strategy for large paddocks (4 ha).