Identify any Concerns from the Assessment and Select Revised Management Practices - Factsheet 5 of 6 in the Pasture and Range Assessment Series - BCMAL


	Factsheet 5 of 6 in the Pasture and Range Assessment Series IDENTIFY ANY CONCERNS FROM THE ASSESSMENT AND SELECT REVISED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES After determining there is a problem, what tools are available to solve it? Various tools are available that vary from passive to intensive management. Before employing a tool, remember that not all tools will be effective for all cases. Each tame or native pasture is distinctive and thus requires unique solutions. Solutions may consist of one tool or a combination of tools. It may also require a significant amount of time (years) to repair grazing areas. Be patient, results will happen with consistent good management. Here are some suggested management actions to assist in addressing the concerns identified in the assessment. Remember that each tame or native pasture is distinctive with unique characteristics that require unique solutions. Addressing Pasture and Range Assessment Concerns *Do desirable plants make up more than one-half of the vegetation cover or weight?* It is important to realize that whether or not a plant is desirable is dependant on location, grazing animal and intended use. Managing for healthy grazinglands with productive, well-adapted forage species can be encouraged by: Managing livestock distribution (see Grazing Management Factsheet 1 Improving Livestock Distribution, and Factsheets 4 and 5 Pasture Design) Preventing overgrazing and providing rest (see Grazing Management Factsheet 2 Grazing Frequency and Utilization) Manipulating season of use (see Grazing Management Factsheet 3 Seasonal Considerations for Grazing Management) In dry land situations, always managing for drought (see Grazing Management Factsheet 8, Managing Through Drought) Managing tame pastures also requires that forages are matched to the precipitation zone (see Grazing Management Factsheet 9 Pasture Management). A good rule of thumb is that to have at least six desirable (productive) plants per square foot (0.3 m2). If not, reseeding may be necessary. If a pasture has significant amounts of invasive plants, an integrated weed management plan should be considered. For more information on weed management, please refer to the following two websites: http://www.weedsbc.ca/resources.html http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/weedguid.htm Invasive plants reduce forage production and availability. Managing for healthy, vigorous desirable plants will increase a pasture’s resistance to invasive plants including weeds and brush (on pastures). *Are desirable plant species abundant in all age and size classes?* The factsheets listed above also contain useful information that will assist in the management of desirable plants so that there is an abundance of all age and size classes. In general, this objective should be achievable if a pasture is being managed for a healthy, vigorous stand of plants. *Does leaf length, seed production, colour, and overall productivity of desirable plants indicate strong vigour?* Managing for healthy, vigorous plants not only ensures that a pasture will produce more forage, it also ensures that the plants in the pasture are resisting the invasion of invasive plants and are maximizing the use of most available water, sunlight, and nutrients. Moreover, if desirable plants lack vigour, they will not only produce less forage, but will also take longer to recover from grazing. If desirable plants lack vigour (poor leaf length, seed production, light green color, high incidence of disease, and low productivity) refer to the following two factsheets: Grazing Management Factsheet 2 Grazing Frequency and Utilization Grazing Management Factsheet 3 Seasonal Considerations for Grazing Management After reading these two factsheets, it is extremely important to remember the following principles: All plants require rest to recover from grazing In general, native forages take longer to recover than tame forages Desirable plants require at least some part of the growing season to recover. This is important because healthy plant crowns need actively growing roots to provide regrowth after grazing. Vary the timing of grazing. For example, if grazing in the spring one year, try and graze in the summer the next year, and then fall the year after that. In order to improve the vigour of a stand it is necessary to ensure that adequate soil nutrients are present to support forage growth. On tame pastures and some grass-dominated range sites, this may mean fertilization, applying manure (please refer to the Nutrient Management Publication of the BC Environmental Farm Plan Series), or winter-feeding on pastures. Also, consider adding a legume forage plant to the pasture. Legumes fix and contribute nitrogen to forage grasses, and thus a tame pasture with greater than 30% legumes may not need additional nitrogen fertilizer. Overall, it is important to ensure that adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and sulphur are present within the soil of the pasture. On most other native range sites, including forested range, the only recourse (besides fertilization in some cases) is to ensure that adequate amounts of plant residue and litter are present. *Is there any evidence of overuse (hedging) on shrubs and trees?* Incidental to light use (0 to 25%) on broadleaf shrubs and trees is common and in most cases, preferred, but heavy use is not. Heavy use (greater than 50%) not only can reduce the vigour of woody plants, it also has the potential to reduce livestock productivity as grazingland health and diet quality declines. If shrubs or trees are being used to this extent, either supply feed, or move livestock to areas that have forage (grass and broadleaves) available. *Is litter and plant residue fairly abundant and some composed of desirable plants?* Ensuring that adequate amounts of litter and plant residue are left following grazing not only ensures that nutrients are returned to the soil, it also improves water infiltration, reduces evaporation and improves the water holding capability of the soil. If litter and plant residue are not fairly abundant on the pasture, improve ground cover by: enhancing desirable plant production and vigour reducing the amount of forage removed from your grazinglands. See Grazing Management Factsheet 2 Grazing Frequency and Utilization adjusting the timing of grazing. See Grazing Management Factsheet 3 Seasonal Considerations for Grazing Management winter-feeding on pastures *Is the area free of evidence indicating soil compaction, soil movement or its loss?* If grazinglands are showing signs of soil compaction, soil movement, or its loss, it is extremely important to do anything possible to prevent further damage. Compacted soils can limit water infiltration, percolation, and water storage as well as plant growth and nutrient cycling. In order to prevent compaction, or if soils are compacted: Avoid grazing, haying and/or traffic when the soil is moist or wet. This is particularly important if pastures are dominated by heavier (clay) soils. Use only designated trails or roads (avoid additional trips). Maintain or increase soil organic matter by fertilizing (tame pastures), increasing plant cover, and vigour. If soil is being moved or removed from your grazinglands, decrease the amount of bare ground by: encouraging desirable plant growth and vigour ensuring that adequate amounts of litter and plant residue are being left following grazing ensuring that plants are given adequate rest from grazing reducing soil surface disturbances (especially in dry areas) building water bars and directing water flow from roads, trails, or vehicle tracks across the slope or into existing drainage ways maintaining road surfaces and drainage ways Please review the following Grazing Management factsheets: Factsheet 2 Grazing Frequency and Utilization Factsheet 3 Seasonal Considerations for Grazing Management Factsheet 8 Managing Grazing Lands During Drought Overall, the best way to ensure that grazinglands are being managed in a sustainable manner is to minimize any human caused soil movement or loss. This is accomplished by managing for desirable plants, plant vigour, and litter and plant residue. *Are plant roots exposed or other signs of pedestalling?* If rock or plants within the pasture are pedestalled, it is a good indicator that soil is being lost. Please refer to the above question on how to minimize soil movement or loss. After completing this factsheet, you may want to consider developing a grazing management by referring to factsheet 6. For further information contact: Darren Bruhjell Phone: 250 371-6058 Email: Darren.Bruhjell@gov.bc.ca Back to Range Factsheets Back to Industry Competitiveness Branch Home