The UNL study shows no compaction in fall or early spring grazing

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The UNL study shows no compaction in fall or early spring grazing

A long-term grazing study by the University of Nebraska found no significant signs of compaction when grazing corn residue in the fall or early spring.

Mary Drewnoski is a beef specialist with UNL…

“What we found is that we see an increase in penetration resistance, which is very similar to what you might expect when you actually try to put that planter in the ground. However, the increase in penetration resistance was below the threshold that would impact root growth,” she says.

She says Brownfield, when researchers grazed wetter fields, the soils were found to be denser…

“However, none of the soil compaction indicators were above the threshold where we would have a negative impact on crops and indeed, as with the long-term study, we actually saw an improvement in crop yield “, she says.

Drewnoski says the study found an increase in soybean yields.

“We get two to three bushels of growth by grazing these fields, especially fields that have a lot of very high yields because they have a lot of residue. Getting some of the degradation of that residue started earlier by processing cattle seems to be very positive,” she says.

If cattle are left outside during a hot-humid period, Drewnsoski says research has found there was no long-term damage to the land.

AUDIO: Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska