Description
Does grazing of cover crops negate the soil health benefits of cover crops (CC)? A review of the literature was conducted to understand the soil impacts of grazing CC compared to a non-grazed CC control. Grazing CC did increase soil compaction in 50% of cases, but this increase was below the threshold that would be expected to impact root growth in most cases. It does appear that grazing under wet soils or high stocking rates can compact soil. Grazing did not affect wet aggregate stability in 83% of the studies. Soil carbon concentration was unaffected in 70% of the studies but resulted in a decrease in soil carbon in the remaining 30%. The effects on soil microbial biomass are mixed with 33% reporting no effect, 33% an increase and 33% a mixed effect. Grazing CC did not impact cash crop yields in 64%, increased yield in 7% and had mixed effects in 36% of the studies. There does appear to be an opportunity for crop producers to increase revenue from crop acres by incorporating grazing while capturing soil benefits of CC. However, more research is needed to better understand the key variables which interact to better predict and manage the soil impacts of grazing CC.
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Can You Have Your Cake and Eat it Too? Impact of Grazing Cover Crops on Soil Properties
Does grazing of cover crops negate the soil health benefits of cover crops (CC)? A review of the literature was conducted to understand the soil impacts of grazing CC compared to a non-grazed CC control. Grazing CC did increase soil compaction in 50% of cases, but this increase was below the threshold that would be expected to impact root growth in most cases. It does appear that grazing under wet soils or high stocking rates can compact soil. Grazing did not affect wet aggregate stability in 83% of the studies. Soil carbon concentration was unaffected in 70% of the studies but resulted in a decrease in soil carbon in the remaining 30%. The effects on soil microbial biomass are mixed with 33% reporting no effect, 33% an increase and 33% a mixed effect. Grazing CC did not impact cash crop yields in 64%, increased yield in 7% and had mixed effects in 36% of the studies. There does appear to be an opportunity for crop producers to increase revenue from crop acres by incorporating grazing while capturing soil benefits of CC. However, more research is needed to better understand the key variables which interact to better predict and manage the soil impacts of grazing CC.
