HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Owens, L. B. Articles by Edwards, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Owens, L. B. Articles by Edwards, W. M. Agricola Articles by Owens, L. B. Articles by Edwards, W. M.

Hydrology and Soil Loss From a High-Fertility, Rotational Pasture Program¹

ABSTRACT

Five small watersheds (0.25–3.1 ha) on sloping uplands in eastern Ohio were used to evaluate environmental effects of a beef management program of rotational summer grazing on one area, and rotational winter grazing/feeding with stored hay on another area. During the 5-y study, annual precipitation was 1080 mm, which was 8–15% greater than the long-term average. The surface runoff was measured by precalibrated H-flumes, and automatically sampled using Coshocton wheels. Surface runoff from watersheds with beef cattle management increased, compared with the long-term averages when hay was grown on the watersheds. Greater precipitation was the primary factor causing more runoff during the growing season (May–October), and the cattle management was a major contributing influence on the runoff increase during the dormant season (November–April). Maintenance of good vegetative cover on the study areas was a major factor in limiting annual average surface runoff to < 110 mm, which was a relatively small amount. The large runoff events, although a small percentage of the total number of events, produced most of the runoff volume. Soil loss from these pastures was minimal.

Key Words: surface runoff • soil erosion • water balance • watershed • winter forage

¹ Contribution from the USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Experimental Watershed, Coshocton, OH 43812, in cooperation with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691.

² Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed; Professor of Agronomy, Ohio Agric. Res. & Dev. Center; and Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed, respectively.

Received for publication August 23, 1982.