CRYPTOGAMIC SOIL LOSS & OTHER CONSEQUENCES of CATTLE
GRAZING on PUBLIC LANDS
A Photo-essay in which we:
(1) show range-cattle effects on Cryptogamic Crusts, AKA
Biological Soils or crusts, Microbiotic Soils or Cryptobiotic Soils.
Cattle
trampling results in loss of these soils, encourages weed spread, particularly
cheat grass and knap weed, forest expansion into grasslands and has various
other land degrading effects. Beneficial effects include maintenance of soil
stability, atmospheric nitrogen fixing, infiltration, nutrient contributions
and resistance to water and wind erosion. See Addendum to read more on
Cryptogamic Crusts/Soils and Cheatgrass.
(2) show other damaging effects by range-cattle on
grasslands and vegetation, including inhibited recovery of plant communities as
a result of overgrazing, soil compaction, time of grazing.
While this article illustrates some of the degrading effects
of range-cattle grazing, other damaging effects, particularly in riparian
zones, impact water quality and quantity. These effects are the subject of
several other reports on our website, documenting damage and water contamination.
See the full article with pictures: here
An area ungrazed by cattle. Here the Cryptogamic crusts provide
protection against weed growth and forest ingrowth.
