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Sediment and Nutrient Losses from an Unimproved, All-Year Grazed Watershed

USDA-Agricultural Research Service, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed, P.O. Box 478, Coshocton, OH 43812;

R. W. Van Keuren

Dep. of Agronomy, Ohio State Univ./Ohio Agric. Res. Development Ctr., 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

A common practice for grazing land in the humid, eastern USA is continuous grazing with little or no fertilizer use. Concentrations and transport of nutrients from a 28-ha unimproved grassed watershed were assessed in east-central Ohio for 2 yr without the presence of livestock, for 3 yr with a 17-cow beef (Bos taurus) herd grazing during the summer months only, and for an additional 6-yr period with all-year grazing with hay being brought in for winter feed. Nutrient concentrations remained low during all three grazing levels. An exception was K concentration, which increased with all-year grazing. Concentrations of NO₃-N, mineral-N, P, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl were similar to or less than the concentrations from a nearby 17.7-ha wooded watershed that contained no pastured areas and received no agricultural inputs. Nutrient concentrations showed no consistent seasonal variation. Concentrations of organic-N, total organic C and sediment increased with increased grazing pressure. Greatest sediment concentrations and transport rates generally occurred during July and August regardless of grazing system. Largest monthly average sediment concentrations were 0.8, 1.3, and 3.2 g/L for the three systems, respectively; annual sediment losses were 0.2, 1.2, and 2.1 Mg/ha, respectively. All-year cattle grazing/feeding on an unimproved pasture in this area would not be expected to produce degradation of stream water quality from nutrient concentrations or transport.

Joint contribution from USDA-ARS and Ohio State Univ./Ohio Agric. Res. Development Ctr.

Received for publication July 27, 1988.