WETLAND CONVERSION TO BEEF CATTLE PASTURE: IMPACT ON SOIL NUTRIENT DYNAMICS

Authors: Sigua, Gilbert; KANG, W. - SWFMD; GRIFFIN, J. - SWFMD; Coleman, Samuel

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2004
Publication Date: 10/30/2004
Citation: Sigua, G.C., Kang, W.J., Griffin, J., Coleman, S.W. 2004. Wetland conversion to beef cattle pasture: impact on soil nutrient dynamics. 2004 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Meeting Abstract CD-ROM. November 2004

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Largely influenced by the passage of the Swamp Land Act of 1849, many wetlands have been lost in the coastal plain region of southeastern U.S. primarily as a result of drainage for agricultural activities. This study examined changes in soil nutrient dynamics following conversion of wetland to beef cattle pasture. To better understand the chemical response of soils during wetland conversion, soil samples were collected from the converted beef cattle pastures and from the adjoining reference wetland in Plant City, FL. Data that were collected from the wetland sites were used as the reference data to detect potential changes in soil properties associated with the conversion of wetlands from 1940 to 2002. Overall, conversion of wetland had significant effects on soil OC, pH, TN, P speciation and extractable nutrients: decrease in TOC, TN, WSP and K and increase in soil pH, Ca, Mg, Mn and Fe. In 2002, the average concentrations of TOC and soil OM in pasture fields were 8 and 36 g/kg, significantly lower than those in the reference wetland with 180 and 257 g/kg, respectively. For soil P, wetland soils have higher concentrations (mg/kg) of redox-sensitive P (43), Al-bound P (436), and apatite-P (42) than their levels in pasture soils of 10.6, 171.6, and 10.5 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of water soluble and loosely-bound P were comparable between wetland soils and pasture soils.