Stream Chemistry Responses to Four Range Management Strategies in Eastern Oregon

摘要

Responses of stream chemistry parameters, nitrate-N (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and hydrogen ion activity (pH) were measured on 13 wildland watersheds managed at four different grazing strategies. Range management strategies tested were (A) no grazing, (B) grazing without control of livestock distribution (8.2 ha/AUM), (C) grazing with control of livestock distribution (7.7 ha/AUM), and (D) grazing with control of livestock distribution and cultural treatments to improve forage production (2.8 ha/AUM). Nitrate-N, PO4, Ca, Mg, K, and Na were significantly (p less than 0.001) related to average daily streamflow as a covariate in the analysis of variance. None of the stream chemistry characteristics measured were influenced by increasing intensity of grazing management.