Intensively managed grazing area.

Supports forage, like native or improved grasses/legumes.

unplowed areas with native grasses/shrubs/trees used for forage.

Maybe be reseeded, or fertilized, but not plowed.

1. soil compaction

2. decrease in quality of the forage

What is rotational grazing?

placing fences so livestock can only graze a certain area at a time.

Allows pasture to grow more vigorously when not being grazed.

Delaying the start of grazing beyond the normal starting period. This allows grass species that would normally be damaged/crowded out to become more vigorous.

Ideal when forage is scarce or expensive.

Works well with roational grazing.

1. Chiseling on the contour, maybe applying herbicides, adding appropriate lime/fertilizers, and then reseeding.

2.  Heavy grazing of exisiting forage, followed by herbicides adn then seeding directly into the dead sod

What is the risk of eroison for pasturelands?

Wind erosion: near zero

Water erosion: small, 1.4ton/ac

Streambank trampling can be a problem- keep livestock away from streambanks.

For privately owned rangelands:

Wind: 1.5 tons/ac

Water: 1.4  tons/ac

Important to control soil erosion, because wind and water erosion reduce the forage produced.

What are some practices to increase efficiency of  range forage and protect the soil against wind and water erosion?

1. Seed improved grass cultivators
2. Dealy spring grazing until grass has good start and soil is dry enough to avoid trampling damage
3. Graze simultaneously with cattle and sheep
4. adjust the stocking rate to the growth of the grass as effected by precipitation and season.
5. leave abot 50% fo range forage for reserve and residue.
6. Integrate range grazing with grazing of irrigated pastures
7. Practice rational and deferred grazing.
8. Moe salt periodically to undergraze areas away from water, to encourage uniform grazing.
9. Clear brush to allow more room for forage gasses to grow.

burning rangeland increases the quality of rangeland grasses like bluestem grass.

It controls weeds and insects.

Increases growth and allows it to occur earlier.

But it increases air pollution

on ridges where little water accumulates

in valleys where the soil is gentle

on a gentle gradient with adequate water control

all need to be vegetated and mulched until vegetative cover is established.

Goodwhen there is a uniform coverage of at least 2 inch.

lots of infiltration through organic matter anf roots

thus less runoff, erosion and sedimentation than cropland

slow deep seepage lead to 3-5 day delay in food crests

What are the 4 public land policy periods?

1. aquisition- land was aquired
2. disposition- land was available to individuals
3. reservation- areas were reserved for nationals forests, parks, and monuments
4. Management- attention being given to the beneficial use of forestland to produce wood products, wildlife habitats and recreation.

1. Logging machinery compacts the soil, decreasing soil infiltration capacity
2. Roads decrease area of tree growth, and exposed soil slopes increases erosion
3. Productivity loss is likely to last for decades
4. Slash left behind is often burned which makes soils hydrophobic, leading to less infiltration and more runoff
5. Slash burns can expose the darker soils which absorb more heat, killing seedlings
6. Removes wildlife habitat
7. Ash can increase soil pH
8. Runoff can contaminate surface waters

1. Selection- removing trees individually as they mature
2. Shelterwood- removes mature trees in a series of harvests, several years apart
3. Seed Tree- leaves only enough trees to bear seeds for natural regeneration. (potential for soil erosion after harvest is high)
4. Clearcutting- removes all trees. Replant fast growing trees.

cause more soil compaction

causes more bare soil

Generally, the more expensive, the least amount of disturbance

1. Tractor logging- cheapest, most popular, greatest soil disturbance
2. high-lead cable- drags logs with mobile spar, skid trails can become a gully
3. skyline cable- minimal disturbance if done properly
4. balloon cable- uses balloon to transport log, minimal disturbance, may be hazardous to streams b/c it only transports down hill, expensive
5. helicopter- minimizes erosion, most expensive, less sediment pollution

How do animals affect forested areas?

Animals are generally distructive to tree reproduction and growth because they compact the soil and injure shallow roots.

But they also can remove vegetation that is flammable when dry, thus reducing the fire hazard.

What is the most common nutrient needed to fertilize forestland?

Through what method?

most common nutrient soils need in forestland- nitrogen

Nitrogen is estimated to increase forest growth 5%/year

Helicopters are prefered use for fertilizers

1. only fertilize after a test verifies that the soils would benefit and its economical
2. do not fertilize beyond the absorbtion capacity
3. frequent fertilization at low rates
4. dont fertilize water courses
5. apply when wind in minimal
6. avoid application before a heavy rainfall
7. use coarse-pelleted fertilizers