Combination effect of grazing intensity and livestock type (sheep, cattle and integrated grazing) on physical and chemical properties of soil (Case study: woody rangelands of Savadkouh city, Mazandaran)

Intense grazing of rangeland is one of the most important factors affecting rangeland degradation, which causes soil compaction, increased runoff, weakening and degradation of vegetation, and changes in rangeland species composition, and ultimately affects forage and livestock production. The present study was conducted to investigate the different intensities of cattle and sheep grazing and integrated livestock grazing and compare it with rangeland grazing conditions in the pastures of Halichal, Mersark, Shesh Jouleh and Bozkaleh Besout in Savadkuh city. For this purpose, in each of the studied areas, the standard plot of the modified Vitaker was established in two replications and soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-20 cm and transferred to the laboratory. All data analysis was performed in SPSS version 23 software. The results showed a significant difference in moisture, clay percentage, nitrogen, potassium, electrical conductivity (EC) and phosphorus. The highest amount of Nitrogen (0.86 ppm), Potassium (3 ppm), and electrical conductivity (EC, 6.93 ds/m) were observed in the integrated grazing area and the highest percentage of moisture (5.19%) was observed in the enclosed area. While the maximum amounts of Phosphorus (5.51 ppm) were obtained in the area under intense grazing of cattle and the maximum amounts of clay (15.19%) in the area under intense grazing of sheep. According to the results, exclosure had no significant effect on Organic Matter, Organic Carbon, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, pH, bulk density and CEC.