Soil macronutrient distribution in rotationally stocked kikuyugrass paddocks with short and long grazing periods

Abstract Grazing management affects plant growth and animal production and it may influence the redistribution and cycling of nutrients excreted in dung and urine. Unfortunately, the soil component of pasture systems has received little attention in most grazing trials, and when considered has been evaluated on pastures smaller than those used commercially. A naturalized kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.) grassland was grazed by heifers (Bos taurus) for 2 yr in Experiment 1 to determine the effects of two rotational stocking methods (short vs. long grazing periods) on soil distribution of extractable nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) in 4‐ha paddocks with natural shade. Additionally, in Experiment 2, kikuyugrass‐greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum Urb.) paddocks were used to evaluate the effect of distance from waterers on soil nutrient distribution in rotationally stocked paddocks (long grazing periods) without shade in a cooler,...