Grazing, Army Training, and the Carrying Capacity of Military Lands? (A02-guretzky243797-poster)
Authors:
J.A. Guretzky* - US Army ERDC-CERL J.S. Fehmi - US Army ERDC-CERL A.B. Anderson - US Army ERDC-CERL
Abstract:
Several Army installations support both military training and cattle grazing. Army training, consisting of light-infantry to heavy-mechanized maneuvers, can severely disturb soils and vegetation. Concerns have arisen about how much disturbance Army installations can sustain. Our objective was to discuss the impacts of military training and cattle grazing on western US rangelands. We reviewed literature discussing how these activities affected soils and vegetation. Responses to training generally included increased soil compaction, reduced cover and density of vegetation, shifted dominance from perennial to annual species, disturbance of soil biological crusts, altered hydrologic conditions, and susceptibility to wind and water erosion. Cattle grazing effects were similar when stocking rates were high and
livestock management practices were poor. We concluded that little was known about the interaction of cattle grazing and military training on the soils and vegetation of Army installations. How much these activities overlap and affect the carrying capacity of these lands and recovery from past disturbances remains unknown. Knowledge of their interaction could improve the Army Testing and Training Area Carrying Capacity (ATTACC) model and Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance (LRAM) procedures and ultimately management and sustainability of Army training lands.
Speaker Information: John Guretzky, US Army ERDC-CERL, 2902 Newmark Drive, Champaign, IL 61822; Phone: (217) 352-6511; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 5, 2003, 8:55 AM-11:45 AM Presentation Start: 9:55 AM
Keywords: rangeland health; ecological indicators; disturbance; community ecology
