Effects of cattle grazing during the dormant season on soil surface hydrology and physical quality in a moist-temperate region

Livestock grazing in paddocks of temperate regions during the dormant season affects soil surface hydrology and physical quality, thus, impacting its capacity to function. However, very few studies have dealt with these effects in temperate-moist regions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing on these variables, with reference to soil hydrological and physical characteristics. Soil properties were measured in a paddock under rotational grazing during the growing season only (GR) and compared with those under grazing during the dormant season and rotational grazing during the growing season (DO). Soil series in both paddocks is Coshocton (fine loamy, mixed, active, mesic Aquultic Hapludalfs). Soil properties were studied for 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm depths. In comparison with GR, DO had a smaller soil water sorptivity (36·2 vs 19·4 mm min^-0·5), transmissivity (2·2 vs 0·6 mm min^-1), equilibrium infiltration rate (4·8 vs 1·4 mm min^-1) and cumulative infiltration in 3 h (865·6 vs 260·0 mm). In addition, GR had larger volumetric field moisture capacity (41·4 vs 39·3%), water stable aggregates (880 vs 830 g kg^-1), coarse root (>1 mm) biomass (12·8 vs 7·2 mg cm^-3), smaller penetration resistance (0·93 vs 1·42 MPa) and bulk density (1·24 vs 1·44 g cm^-3). A small difference between GR and DO was observed in vane shear strength (130·3 vs 124·8 kPa), and no difference was found in aggregate's mean weight diameter. Soil properties differed among depths, and the effect of grazing decreased with increased depth.