Interactions between landscape defined management zones and grazing management systems

Abstract

Yield and landscape are commonly used to guide management zone delineation. However, production system choice and management can interact with landscape attributes and weather. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage yield and soil properties in three landscape defined (elevation based) management zones, and under two different grazing systems. Changes in soil properties (soil strength, bulk density, moisture, bioavailable nutrients) and forage productivity (biomass), as related to grazing management and management zone, were measured. Bulk density, moisture, and forage biomass were greater at higher elevation. Soil strength decreased as elevation increased, and was greater near-surface after winter grazing ended. The response of landscape delineated management zones varied with extreme weather conditions and treatment. Lower zones were more sensitive to weather extremes than higher elevations, directly affecting biomass accumulation. In conclusion, we observed interactions between the grazing treatments and the management zones.