Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
The amount of surface runoff water and soil loss produced by artificial rainfall were measured in the grasslands where vertical and horizontal cattle tracks sharply developed, in order to establish the suitable design of paddock and the arrangement of water or salt sites that reduce the inclined grassland to erode. In mountainous grassland with steep slopes, grazing cattle take the nearly same routes which were determined by the degree of inclination and the locations of fences, water and salt sites or camping sites. The routes were gradually denuded of vegetation and formed many paths called "Ushimichi (in Japanese)", and were often the source of severe erosion under the heavy rainfall of typhoons or the rainy season in Japan. The four inclined grasslands with vertical or horizontal cattle tracks were tested, which were abbreviated to "V.CT" or "H.CT" in the text, respectively. Runoff coefficients in V. CT were 64-91 % , and the coefficients at the slope of 18° were larger than those at the slope of 10°. In H.CT with grass covering, runoff coefficients were 12-27%, and after grass cutting the coefficient increased to 23-43%.
About 300 and 120 times of soil loss were produced in V.CT at the slope of 18° as compared to soil loss in H.CT under grass covering and grass cutting at the slope of 25°. Since horizontal cattle tracks were highly effected in reducing soil loss, it is important for soil conservation of inclined grassland to have a better management of grazing grassland that reduces the vertical cattle tracks.
Citation
Oikawa, M; Okamoto, K; and Ogawa, Y, "The Differences in Surface Runoff and Soil Loss Between Vertical and Horizontal Cattle Tracks in Inclined Grasslands" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 6.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses13/6)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Differences in Surface Runoff and Soil Loss Between Vertical and Horizontal Cattle Tracks in Inclined Grasslands
Kyoto Japan
The amount of surface runoff water and soil loss produced by artificial rainfall were measured in the grasslands where vertical and horizontal cattle tracks sharply developed, in order to establish the suitable design of paddock and the arrangement of water or salt sites that reduce the inclined grassland to erode. In mountainous grassland with steep slopes, grazing cattle take the nearly same routes which were determined by the degree of inclination and the locations of fences, water and salt sites or camping sites. The routes were gradually denuded of vegetation and formed many paths called "Ushimichi (in Japanese)", and were often the source of severe erosion under the heavy rainfall of typhoons or the rainy season in Japan. The four inclined grasslands with vertical or horizontal cattle tracks were tested, which were abbreviated to "V.CT" or "H.CT" in the text, respectively. Runoff coefficients in V. CT were 64-91 % , and the coefficients at the slope of 18° were larger than those at the slope of 10°. In H.CT with grass covering, runoff coefficients were 12-27%, and after grass cutting the coefficient increased to 23-43%.
About 300 and 120 times of soil loss were produced in V.CT at the slope of 18° as compared to soil loss in H.CT under grass covering and grass cutting at the slope of 25°. Since horizontal cattle tracks were highly effected in reducing soil loss, it is important for soil conservation of inclined grassland to have a better management of grazing grassland that reduces the vertical cattle tracks.
