Does Grazing Cover Crops Impact Soil Properties?

Grazing of cover crops (CCs) by cattle could provide supplemental forage and additional revenue to offset grain yield losses when CCs are grown in semiarid rainfed cropping systems. However, grazing reduce the amount residue retained on soil surface subsequently affect physical chemical properties. This study evaluated effects bulk density, aggregate stability, properties using samples collected from three producer fields west central Kansas that had paired grazed non-grazed CC treatments, as well adjacent native perennial pastures. Across sites, after averaged 2650 lb/a compared 3741 for CCs, representing a 29% decrease biomass with grazing. Bulk size distribution, mean weight diameter (MWD) were not different (P > 0.05) between CCs. The MWD under pasture was 0.148 in., approximately 2.9-fold greater than (0.050 in.) or (0.051 in.). Soil pH organic carbon (SOC) did differ nitrate (NO3-N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) concentrations pasture. Our findings showed may be management option intensify NT systems little negative extractable nutrient concentrations.