文章基本信息

标题：Hydrologic properties of grazed perennial swards in semiarid southeastern Kenya
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作者：M. M. Nyangito ; N. K. R. Musimba ; D. M. Nyariki 等
期刊名称：African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
电子版ISSN：1996-0786
出版年度：2009
卷号：3
期号：2
页码：26-33
DOI：10.5897/AJEST08.181
语种：English
出版社：Academic Journals
摘要：Identification of plant resources that persist under grazing pressure, support desirable levels of production and at the same time protect the grazing environment is central to sustainable livestock production. This study assessed the infiltration capacity and soil loss associated with perennial swards subjected to different levels of utilization using simulated rainfall. The hypothesis was tested that grazed perennial swards have similar hydrologic properties and threshold removal levels below which runoff increases markedly. Infiltration capacity for the perennial swards increased with increasing stubble height before leveling off towards the highest stubble height. A 50% removal of current growth was the upper limit above which runoffs from the swards increased rapidly. Aggregate stability, organic carbon and percent ground plant cover were the most significant attributes that influenced infiltration capacity.Panicum maximumandEnteropogon macrostachyuswere the most suitable perennial swards with favourable soil physical properties and infiltration capacities in the study area. The results support the existence of a threshold level of sward stubble height for minimizing runoff.
关键词：Perennial swards; water infiltration capacity; runoff thresholds