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A BACKGROUND STUDY ON SOILS BEING CONVERTED TO ROTATIONAL GRAZING

Sustainable Agriculture

Brad Carlson
Extension Professor
University of Minnesota Extension
Mankato

Abstract

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture began a grant funded demonstration project on the conversion of riparian areas to rotational grazing in 2005. Eight sites in Southeast Minnesota were identified with diverse use histories. Several environmental and management aspects regarding the conversion were to be explored. The author was asked to complete a study of changes in soil quality parameters. An extensive literature search yielded a list of chemical and physical characteristics to be analyzed. One major challenge occurred with the study in that changes in soil quality were to be documented, but none of the characteristics associated with positive changes in soil quality were likely to improve in a time frame as short as the project (three years). The presentation will discuss how the project was completed via various comparisons and measurements. Overall, the focus will be on how the project was designed and executed despite its initial lack of focus and unrealistic objectives. Authors: Carlson, B. M.
  1. Carlson, B. M. Extension Educator, University Of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota, 55021