Excessive livestock grazing overrides the positive effects of trees on infiltration capacity and modifies preferential flow in dry <i>miombo</i> woodlands

The increase in livestock grazing African drylands such as miombo woodlands threatens land productivity and ecosystem functioning. Trees have positive effects on soil hydraulic properties, but few studies looked at intensity hydrological functioning different uses. Therefore, we conducted a biophysical survey Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania, where identified four main uses cover types, that is, Forest reserve, open-access forest, cropland under fallow, active cropland. We assessed intensity, measured infiltration capacity, dye tracer experiments to assess the degree of preferential flow 64 plots. also tested effect exclusion capacity 12-year-old fenced Our results show irrespective use or type, bulk density increased by 10% from low high whereas organic carbon decreased 55% 28%, respectively. found relationship between tree basal area plots with lowest intensities. However, higher grazing, remained independently area. Preferential deeper soils was six-times areas no indicating deep groundwater recharge potential conclude negative impacts excessive override trees, restricting can reverse impact.