Soil water regime and surface runoff patterns of pastures under managed intensive grazing in central Albert

Managed intensive grazing (MIG) is increasing in popularity in central Alberta as a profitable, yet sustainable, grazing method. The soil water regime and surface runoff patterns of annual and perennial (alfalfa, meadow bromegrass, old grass) pastures were characterized under MIG at Lacombe, Alberta.;Alfalfa had the highest surface bulk density (0--2.5 cm) and old grass the lowest, whereas old grass had the highest immediately below the surface (2.5 and 10 cm). Old grass had the highest penetration resistance and annual the lowest, for both wet and dry soil conditions. Annual and meadow bromegrass had the highest soil water, whereas alfalfa and old grass had the lowest. The leaching potential was very low for all forage treatments. Total annual runoff was dominated by snowmelt runoff, with both snowmelt and rainfall runoff greatest from the alfalfa treatments. Old grass treatments produced the least amount of snowmelt runoff.