Pastureland: Soil and Water Effects
47
environmental and economic sustainability of these types of
animal production systems. Management intensive grazing
is a grazing system in which animals at a high stocking
density are rotated through several paddocks at short time
intervals (12-24 h) so that animal performance is
maximized. Although MIG has the potential to increase
dairy farm profitability in the northeast US, recent work in
this region has shown that a substantial amount of N
applied as fertilizer is leached below the root zone of
orchardgrass (Dactyls glomerata L., (cv.) 'Pennlate')
managed as an intensive pasture. How much N is leached
from other forage species managed as intensive pasture
under the climatic conditions of the northeast US is not
known. A field study was conducted using large drainage
lysimeters to measure NO3-N leaching loss from six
pasture swards: orchardgrass + N, orchardgrass + alfalfa
(Medicago sativa L., (cv.) Alfagraze), orchardgrass +
Ladino type white clover (Trifolium repens L.), Ryegrass
(Lolium perrene L, (cv.) Citadel) + N, ryegrass + alfalfa, and
ryegrass + white clover. The study site was located in
central Pennsylvania on a Hagerstown silt loam soil (fine,
mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf). Nitrate-N leaching losses
were most consistent under N fertilized swards where the
amount of N could be adjusted for yearly weather
conditions. In a drought year, NO3-N leaching increased
dramatically in swards containing alfalfa or white clover.
Sward type and stocking density need to be taken into
consideration when developing an animal production
system that will be both environmentally and economically
sustainable.
This citation is from AGRICOLA.
153. Water quality improvement program effectiveness
for carbonate aquifers in grazed land watersheds.
Boyer, D. G.
Journal of the American Water Resources Association
41(2): 291-300. (2005)
NAL Call #: GB651.W315; ISSN: 1093-474X
Descriptors: water quality/ aquifers/ livestock/ catchments/
fecal colif