The Effects of Livestock Grazing on Soil Water Content in a Wetland of Mongolia

Abstract

Wetlands are critical ecosystems for supporting biodiversity and regulating climate. Over the past century, it has been degraded significantly due to both climatic and human activities. In Mongolia, livestock grazing has drastic impact on this ecosystem. In this study, we seek to understand the effects of grazing on soil water content (SWC) and moisture by contrasting grazed and non-grazed area in a wetland in north-eastern Mongolia. We found that water infiltration was five times lower in grazed area than that of non-grazed area. Soil water content was higher and stable near soil surface (5 cm soil depth) throughout the growing season in grazed area, while it was lower and sensitive to rainfall events in non-grazed area. Also, soil moisture derived from electric resistivity measurement data supports our results of higher SWC in grazed area, relative to non-grazed area, suggesting that a reduction in infiltration is likely due to soil compaction associated with grazing activities.