Soil and Grasslands Serve Each Other

This article highlights the essential, interconnected relationship between soil and grasslands, emphasizing how healthy soils support productive forage systems while grasslands, in turn, sustain soil health. It explains how soil provides critical ecosystem services—such as nutrient cycling, water retention, and biodiversity—that underpin agricultural productivity and environmental resilience. The piece illustrates how proper soil management, including maintaining ground cover and minimizing compaction, enhances water infiltration, reduces nutrient loss, and supports diverse biological communities. Ultimately, it underscores that well-managed grasslands and soils work together to improve food production, environmental quality, and climate regulation, reinforcing the importance of stewardship in agricultural systems.

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Cattle and Carbon Series

The Cattle and Carbon Series by Dr. Alan Franzluebbers of the USDA-Agricultural Research Service explores the vital relationship between pasture-based cattle production and soil carbon in the Carolinas. Through twelve installments, the series explains how carbon cycles through plants, animals, and soil—forming the foundation of life and soil health—and examines how management practices affect soil carbon storage. Drawing from extensive soil sampling across North Carolina, the series reveals that well-managed grasslands can significantly enhance soil organic matter, water retention, and ecosystem resilience. It also addresses the role of carbon markets and the stewardship responsibilities of farmers in maintaining healthy, carbon-rich soils. Overall, Cattle and Carbon illustrates how sustainable livestock systems contribute to climate mitigation, productive pastures, and environmental balance.

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1. Introduction and Basics
2. Storage of Soil Carbon in the Carolinas
3. Soil Carbon Calculations
4. Soil Organic Carbon on North Carolina Farms
5. Soil Carbon Distinguished from Pedogenesis and Management
6. Land Use and Forage Management Impacts on Soil Carbon
7. The Intertwining of Carbon and Nitrogen
8. Biologically Active Soil Carbon
9. Soil Organic Matter Associates with Physical Properties
10. Soil Organic Matter Associates with Some Chemical Properties
11. What could a Carbon Market Look Like?
12. Summarizing and Sealing this Series

Watch the presentation by Alan Franzluebbers “The Biological Basis for Soil Health” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

The Biological Basis of Soil Health” is introduced in light of traditional soil fertility evaluation.  However, current nitrogen fertility recommendations are inadequate by not accounting for biologically active nitrogen in soil.  Soil-test biological activity is a simple, rapid, and robust indicator of soil nitrogen mineralization and has been calibrated to yield responses of fall-stockpiled tall fescue.

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Watch the presentation by Steve Woodruff “Principles of Soil Health” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

In this webinar, Steve Woodruff, a soil health specialist with the NRCS, discussed the relationship between grazing and soil health. This webinar provides a good overview of the relationship between grazing and soil health. It is important to note that grazing can be a powerful tool for improving soil health, but it is important to use grazing practices that are compatible with soil health goals. Rotational grazing is generally better for soil health than continuous grazing.

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Watch the presentation by Matt Poore “Pasture Evaluation and Renovation” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

Dr. Matt Poore discussed the importance of pasture evaluation and renovation in a webinar hosted by North Carolina State University. He explained that farmers renovate pastures for two main reasons: to change the forage crop to something more productive or to improve an old pasture. He then introduced the NRCS pasture condition scoring system, which is a tool that farmers can use to assess their pastures and determine if they need to be renovated.

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Watch the presentation by Deidre Harmon “Pasture Layout and Design” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

Dr. Deidre Harmon from North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service presented a webinar on pasture layout and design. She emphasized that pasture design should be tailored to the specific needs of each farm, taking into account the type of animals, the availability of water and shade, and the desired grazing behavior. The goals of pasture design are to conserve natural resources, improve forage utilization, and protect soils and landscapes. Even small farms can benefit from careful pasture design.

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Watch the presentation by Deidre Harmon “Principles of Grazing Management” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

The webinar discussed the basic principles of grazing management, including the characteristics of forage and animals that influence grazing, as well as the different grazing methods and their benefits. The speaker emphasized the importance of getting the stocking rate right, leaving enough residue after grazing, and monitoring pasture conditions when managing grazing.

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Watch the presentation by Johnny Rogers “Understanding Animal Forage Demand” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

The webinar discussed the importance of understanding animal forage demand in grazing systems. The presenter talked about carrying capacity, nutritional requirements of different livestock species, ruminant digestion, factors that affect forage intake, and supplementation programs. He emphasized that by understanding these factors, producers can better manage their grazing systems to meet the nutritional needs of their animals and ensure that they are getting the most out of their forage resources.

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Watch the presentation by Deidre Harmon “Principles of Forage Plant Growth and Physiology” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

In this webinar, Dr. Harmon discusses how farmers and ranchers can use plant growth and physiology to manipulate factors that encourage rapid plant growth and survival. Dr. Harmon explained that understanding plant morphology and physiology can help pasture managers make decisions about how often to cut or graze plants, when to fertilize, and how much to fertilize. She also discussed the different parts of a plant and how they function.

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Watch the presentation by Matt Poore “Introduction to Pastureland Ecology” as part of the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series 2023 offered by Amazing Grazing.

View the full series at this link.