Are You Creating Your Own Drought?
L
and management can have a significant effect on how the land responds to rain, or the lack thereof. The trip a raindrop takes from the cloud to the soil can be highly impacted by grazing management. Raindrops that fall on unprotected soil cause tiny explosions, dislodging microscopic soil particles in every direction. This dislodging of soil matter is the beginning step to erosion. Rain that falls on hard, bare ground will likely run off before it infiltrates. In this case, the land is no better off after a rain than it was before; because no water has infiltrated into the soil profile where it can be used to grow grass and other forage species. With no roots to hold it together, fertile topsoil will be washed away, further degrading the potential for that land to be productive. Raindrops can be intercepted by vegetative matter, in the rancher’s case, primarily grass. The more forage matter, or grass, that is present on the ground, the more likely the raindrop will be intercepted and slow its’ impact with the soil. This will protect the soil below from disruption. The slower the raindrop, the higher the likelihood it will be absorbed into the ground, where it can be used for greater forage production. High stocking rates, or number of cattle on a given area of land for a given period, can
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Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG
BY SHELBY PARKER, NRCS GONZALES
lead to a decrease in forage productivity and increase in bare ground without providing adequate rest and recovery. This bare ground will be subject to erosion and will not aid in capturing rain that falls on your land. Grasses slow rainfall impact above ground and their roots create channels for rain to infiltrate into the soil. Dead plant material will become part of the soil profile, known as organic material. The higher the proportion of organic material in the soil, the more water it can hold. While it may seem like a waste to leave plant material un-grazed, it is helping your grass production in the long run. Good rangeland management cannot be bought in a 50-pound bag or a lick tub. If your property is experiencing bare ground and low drought resiliency, strongly consider reducing cattle numbers and look at a good rotational grazing program to help your property become more productive. Healthier rangelands produce healthier cows, which wean heavier calves. While lower cattle numbers will reduce gross income from a reduced calf crop, your feed bill will also likely be reduced. If you feel like your property is constantly undergoing repeated small droughts, it could be a result of degraded soil. Help your soil help you by reducing cattle numbers. Your soil will thank you, your cattle will thank you, and your wallet will thank you.
