Soil: Use fewer grazers

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

40%
Certainty

10%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

The effectiveness category for this action refers to its effects on soil fertility (not its effects on greenhouse gases or climate regulation).

Study locations

Key messages

Organic matter (0 studies)

Nutrients (2 studies): One controlled study in wood pasture in Chile found more nitrogen and phosphorus in paddocks grazed at lower intensities, in some comparisons. One replicated, randomized, controlled study in grasslands in the USA found no difference in nitrogen between areas with low or high levels of simulated grazing.

Soil organisms (0 studies)

Soil erosion and aggregation (0 studies)

Greenhouse gases (1 study): One replicated, randomized, controlled study in grasslands in the USA found no differences in rates of soil respiration between areas with low or high levels of simulated grazing.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A controlled study in 1976–1983 in wood pasture (Espinal) in central Chile found more nitrogen and phosphorus in paddocks that were grazed by sheep at lower stocking rates. Nutrients: More nitrogen and phosphorus were found at lower stocking rates (e.g., with 1 vs 3.5 sheep/ha: 0.3% vs 0.1% N, 6.0 vs 1.5 mg P₂O₅/kg soil). Methods: The study area (32 ha) was grazed with 1 sheep/ha for at least 20 years before the study began. In 1976, seven paddocks were established with fences (2.5–10 ha/paddock, 10 sheep/paddock), each with a different stocking rate (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, or 4 sheep/ha). In paddocks with 1–3.5 sheep/ha, soil samples were collected in 1983 (0–20 cm depth).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
del Pozo A., Ovalle C., Casado M.A., Acosta B. & de Miguel J.M. (2006) Effects of grazing intensity in grasslands of the Espinal of central Chile. Journal of Vegetation Science, 17, 791-798.
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2008–2010 in sown plots in lowland grasslands in northern California, USA, found no difference in nitrogen availability or soil respiration between plots grazed at medium intensity, compared to high intensity. Nutrients: There was no difference in nitrogen availability between plots grazed at medium or high intensity (0.2–0.3 g N/g soil/day). Greenhouse gases: There were no differences in soil respiration between plots grazed at a medium or high intensity (245–315 µmol CO₂/min/g soil). Methods: In 2007 four experimental blocks were established across two pastures. Each block was split into eighteen plots and subjected to one of three treatments: no manipulation; mowing and trampling by cattle to simulate medium cattle grazing; mowing and trampling by cattle to simulate heavy cattle grazing. Soil nitrogen availability was measured in December 2009–March 2010 using ion exchange resin bags. Soil respiration was measured in February 2010.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Stein C., Hallett L.M., Harpole W.S. & Suding K.N. (2014) Evaluating ecosystem services provided by non-native species: an experimental test in California grasslands. PLoS ONE, 9, e75396.

Please cite as:

Shackelford, G. E., Kelsey, R., Robertson, R. J., Williams, D. R. & Dicks, L. V. (2017) Sustainable Agriculture in California and Mediterranean Climates: Evidence for the effects of selected interventions. Synopses of Conservation Evidence Series. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Mediterranean Farmland

Related Actions

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Crop production: Add slurry to the soil Action Link	Beneficial	6	Synopsis Link
Other biodiversity: Use grazers to manage vegetation Action Link	Trade-off between benefit and harms	18	Synopsis Link
Water: Use fewer grazers Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link