Soils for Ranchers & Natural Resource Managers

Rangeland

is land with natural vegetation predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs or shrubs that may be grazed by domestic livestock.

Rangeland can be open grasslands or in forested areas.

Pasture

is grazing land with seeded plants for improved forage. Management of pastures will include grazing management, cultivation, seeding, fertilization, irrigation and pest management. It may also include mowing and reseeding.  
 

Common rangeland and pasture soil problems 

Rangelands face problems of 1) maintaining soils for productivity, 2) management of noxious weeds (though not really soil related), 3) appropriate soil management to meet ecosystem goals (e.g., vernal pool or habitat maintenance), and 4) point erosion around roads.

Pastures have challenges around 1) irrigation and 2) fertilization (N and sometimes P if growing legumes) to maintain grass growth for productivity.

There is increasing concern the the increasing lose of ground cover due to fires is leading to increases in 1) water erosion and 2) mudslides. (We are seeking confirmation of this.)

You can check your soil type at Soil web (T O’Geen) to get a general sense of soils in your area.

Soil web is a remarkable map resource showing soil types throughout California with detailed information on soil characteristics and potential uses.

Opportunities

Sequester C as a marketing opportunity (i.e., Potentially gain a cost premium by marketing as "Products come from lands actively seeking to help preserve our planet" or similar.)

Low maintenance roads to limit site erosion.
 

Reduce erosion by 1) Protecting your soil surface and 2) Avoiding water channeling and concentrating

Practices to improve soil health

Rangelands

• Sequestering Carbon
• Graze for Soil Health
  • Grazing systems
  • Stocking rates
• Compost (Fertilize)
   
• Seeding
• Preserve, rehabilitate and diversify habitat
• Water Developments
• Build roads (to limit point erosion)

Pastures

• Sequestering Carbon
• Compost (Fertilize)
• Graze
• Seed
• Irrigate
• Build roads (to limit point erosion)

Building rangeland soil health

Sequestering Carbon

• Why and how do I sequester Carbon? Fact Sheet

Graze for soil health
 

Grazing - why, what, when, how

Yes, grazing is key to a healthy soil and rangeland health. Hundreds of years ago, this balance was kept through buffalo, deer and elk and now often by cattle.

Recommended Grazing practices:  Understand grazing Fact Sheet (Barry, Larson, Ford and Bush)

Stocking rates: Rangeland productivity Fact Sheet (Becchetti)

Alfalfa - Find information on alfala management practices (Agronomy RIC)

Compost (fertilize)
 

The use of regular inorganic fertilizer is rarely economic on rangelands.

Assess compost quality for Agriculture Fact Sheet

What's in the different products? Fact sheet

Compost for Rangelands Fact Sheet

Seeding (rangeland)

See Seeding Part 1: Sow, You Want to Seed Your Rangeland or Irrigated Pasture

Preserve, rehabilitate and diversify Habitat  - Riparian areas

What's the goal (e.g., birds, vernal pools)?

Riparian calculator

Visual assessment of Riparian Health Fact Sheet

Establishing Hedgerows in California Fact sheet

Water

Cows need water too Fact sheet (Barry, Larson, Bush)

Building roads

How do I establish roads for minimal cost while limiting erosion? Fact Sheet 

Why should I care if I lose a bit of soil? Erosion is important for two main reasons

1. The finer richer fraction of the soil is what you typically lose, and
2. Soil forms incredibly slowly - a single inch of topsoil takes from 200 to 1,000 years to form from the raw material of the subsoil. (You can read more on soil formation from Ventura county)

Building pasture soil health

Pastures - managed forage for livestock
 

Sequestering Carbon

Why and how do I sequester Carbon? Fact Sheet

Irrigation

Managing irrigated pasture during drought Fact sheet

Fertilization

Assessing compost quality for Agriculture Fact Sheet

What's in the different products? Fact sheet

Grazing

Graze! Yes, grazing (hundreds of years ago by buffalo, deer and elk) and now often by cattle is key to a healthy pasture.

Recommended Grazing practices?  Understand grazing Fact Sheet (Barry, Larson, Ford and Bush)

Seeding (pastures)

See Seeding Part 1: Sow, You Want to Seed Your Rangeland or Irrigated Pasture

Riparian areas

Riparian carbon calculator

Visual assessment of Riparian Health Fact Sheet

Establishing Hedgerows in California Fact sheet

Roads

How do I establish roads for minimal cost while limiting erosion? Fact Sheet