Cattle grazing, a common form of land use on grasslands, could alter the climate at the surface. This study focused on how physical landscape changes associated with grazing could have a significant impact on soil temperature and moisture, and subsequently on soil respiration on a shortgrass steppe in northeastern Colorado.; Using micrometeorological data, the objective of this research was to discern the connections between energy, water, carbon and land use, particularly grazing.; The first section examined the impacts of simulated grazing on soil temperature and moisture. Plots with varying fractions of bare ground were used to simulate grazing density. Results indicated that both soil temperature and soil moisture increased with an increase in the fraction of bare ground.; Having found the relationship between the fraction of bare ground, and soil temperature and moisture, simulated cattle grazing was indirectly linked to changes in soil respiration. Soil respiration increased with an increase in soil temperature, until a critical threshold temperature was reached. An increase in soil moisture resulted in a decrease in soil respiration. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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