Study

Cattle grazing has varying impacts on stream-channel erosion in oak woodlands

  • Published source details George M.R., Larsen R.E., McDougald N.K., Tate K.W., Gerlach J.J.D. & Fulgham K.O. (2004) Cattle grazing has varying impacts on stream-channel erosion in oak woodlands. California Agriculture, 58, 138-143.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Other biodiversity: Use seasonal grazing

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland

Other biodiversity: Use fewer grazers

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland

Other biodiversity: Exclude grazers

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland
  1. Other biodiversity: Use seasonal grazing

    A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1995–1998 in forested pastures in central California, USA, found no difference in plant cover on stream banks or in grassy areas in pastures grazed by cattle in the dry season, compared to the wet season. Plants: There was no difference in plant cover on stream banks or in the surrounding grassy areas between pastures grazed in the dry season, compared to the wet season (31–84%). Methods: Two pastures in each of three streams were assigned to either dry- or wet-season grazing (July–October and October/November–May, respectively). Half of each were grazed at moderate intensity, and half at high intensity (reducing stubble to 2–3 and <2 inches, respectively). Plant cover was measured in June, on 10 transects running across the streams.

     

  2. Other biodiversity: Use fewer grazers

    A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1995–1998 in forested pastures in central California, USA, found no difference in plant cover on stream banks and surrounding grass between pastures moderately and intensively grazed by cattle. Plants: There was no difference in plant cover on stream banks and the surrounding grass between moderately and intensively grazed (31–84% cover). Methods: Two pastures in each of three streams were assigned to either moderate or intensive grazing (reducing stubble to 2–3 and less than 2 inches, respectively). Half of each were grazed in the dry season, and half in the wet season (July–October and October/November–May, respectively). Plant cover was measured in June on 10 transects running across the streams.

     

  3. Other biodiversity: Exclude grazers

    A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1995–1998 in forested pastures in central California, USA, found no difference in plant cover on stream banks and the surrounding grass between ungrazed pastures and most cattle grazing regimes. Plants: There was no difference in plant cover on stream banks and the surrounding grass between ungrazed and grazed pastures, for three of four grazing regimes (6–94% cover). There was higher plant cover in ungrazed plot, compared to grazed plots, for high intensity, dry-season grazing (72–94% vs 31–51%). Methods: One pasture in each of three streams was ungrazed and the other four were grazed moderately or intensively (reducing stubble to 2–3 and less than 2 inches, respectively) and in the dry season or the wet season (July–October and October/November–May, respectively). Plant cover was measured in June on 10 transects across the streams.

     

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