Soil Fertility of Grasslands under Influence of Grazing

Autor/innen

  • R. Venkataramanan Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai
  • S. Krishnakumar
  • C. Sreekumar
  • R. Anilkumar
  • M. Iyue

Schlagwörter:

Grasslands, soil, soil organic carbon, grazing, fertility

Abstract

Grazing is one of the important biotic factors that influences the formation and sustenance of grasslands. The present study was undertaken to assess the influence of grazing by different species of domestic herbivores, on fertility of grasslands. Soil from grasslands grazed by buffaloes, crossbred cattle and sheep, as well as control grassland restricted from grazing, were compared for different fertility parameters like soil organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, electric conductivity (EC), pH and texture. In general, all the grassland soils were fertile with soil organic carbon (SOC) and most of the nutrients above optimum levels. The soil from grasslands which were grazed by ruminants was superior to the ungrazed control in terms of most of the nutrients. Phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and EC were found to differ significantly between the four treatment groups. The conditions prevalent in different treatment groups and their possible effect on fertility of soils are discussed.Keywords: Grasslands, soil, soil organic carbon, grazing, fertility   

Autor/innen-Biografie

  • R. Venkataramanan, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai
    Assistant Professor, Animal Genetics and Breeding

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Veröffentlicht

2013-01-09

Ausgabe

Bd. 2 Nr. 3 (2012)

Rubrik

Research Articles

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