An Approach to the Key Soil Physical Properties for Assessing Soil Compaction Due to Livestock Grazing in Mediterranean Mountain Areas

Rafael Blanco-Sepúlveda (), María Luisa Gómez-Moreno and Francisco Lima
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Rafael Blanco-Sepúlveda: Geographic Analysis Research Group, Department of Geography, University of Málaga, Campus of Teatinos, s/n., 29071 Málaga, Spain
María Luisa Gómez-Moreno: Geographic Analysis Research Group, Department of Geography, University of Málaga, Campus of Teatinos, s/n., 29071 Málaga, Spain
Francisco Lima: Geographic Analysis Research Group, Department of Geography, University of Málaga, Campus of Teatinos, s/n., 29071 Málaga, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: The selection of key soil physical properties (SPPs) for studying the impact of livestock treading is an unexplored research topic, especially in studies that analyze the influence of livestock management on the degradation process. The objective of this work was to demonstrate that the key SPPs for studying the impact of livestock treading depend on the objectives of the research and the environmental characteristics of the study site. This work used discriminant analysis to establish the most significant SPPs among the following: bulk density (BD), total porosity (P), field capacity (FC), infiltration capacity (IC), and aggregate stability (AS). Results showed that (1) IC and BD are the key properties for identifying the areas affected (bare patch) and unaffected (vegetated patch) by livestock treading, (2) none of the SPPs are significant under increasing stocking rates, and (3) BD is the key property for analyzing livestock impact with increasing stocking rate, using soil calcium carbonate content, slope exposure, and grass cover. We concluded that the relationship between physical soil degradation and stocking rate is not linear because it depends on environmental factors; therefore, to establish the key SPPs, it is necessary to take this fact into account.

Keywords: soil physical properties; livestock treading; stocking rate; environmental variability; discriminant analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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