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Grazing Affects Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Directly and Indirectly Through Herbaceous Species Diversity in Sahelian Savanna Ecosystems

Gebremedhn, Haftay Hailu ; Taugourdeau, Simon ; Mensah, Sylvanus ; Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie ; Tagesson, Torbern LU ; Moulin, Patricia ; Ndiaye, Ousmane ; Wieckowski, Aleksander LU orcid and Salgado, Paulo (2025) In Land Degradation and Development 36(10). p.3490-3498
Abstract

The impact of livestock grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the Sahel has been poorly documented due to a lack of data from different grazing intensities. This study evaluated SOC stocks under four grazing intensities within 0–30 cm soil depth in dry savanna ecosystems of Senegal. It also examined possible indirect relationships between grazing and SOC through herbaceous species diversity, herbaceous biomass, and carbon–nitrogen ratio. Four sites representing high, moderate, light, and no grazing intensity levels were selected. Transect survey methods were used for sampling soil and vegetation data within each of the sites. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models and piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM). SOC... (More)

The impact of livestock grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the Sahel has been poorly documented due to a lack of data from different grazing intensities. This study evaluated SOC stocks under four grazing intensities within 0–30 cm soil depth in dry savanna ecosystems of Senegal. It also examined possible indirect relationships between grazing and SOC through herbaceous species diversity, herbaceous biomass, and carbon–nitrogen ratio. Four sites representing high, moderate, light, and no grazing intensity levels were selected. Transect survey methods were used for sampling soil and vegetation data within each of the sites. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models and piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM). SOC stocks were significantly different among the four grazing intensities, and higher stocks were observed with increased intensity. Furthermore, high-intensity grazing was shown to reduce the carbon–nitrogen ratio by negatively affecting the diversity of herbaceous species, which indirectly promoted SOC stocks. In conclusion, this study found that increased grazing intensity promoted SOC stocks both directly and indirectly through herbaceous species diversity.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
grazing intensity, herbaceous biomass and species diversity, Senegal, soil organic carbon
in
Land Degradation and Development
volume
36
issue
10
pages
9 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000821383
ISSN
1085-3278
DOI
10.1002/ldr.5580
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4423107c-9e5e-4a64-84cd-b4a79b6e291f
date added to LUP
2025-09-12 13:16:43
date last changed
2025-10-14 12:52:32
@article{4423107c-9e5e-4a64-84cd-b4a79b6e291f,
  abstract     = {{<p>The impact of livestock grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the Sahel has been poorly documented due to a lack of data from different grazing intensities. This study evaluated SOC stocks under four grazing intensities within 0–30 cm soil depth in dry savanna ecosystems of Senegal. It also examined possible indirect relationships between grazing and SOC through herbaceous species diversity, herbaceous biomass, and carbon–nitrogen ratio. Four sites representing high, moderate, light, and no grazing intensity levels were selected. Transect survey methods were used for sampling soil and vegetation data within each of the sites. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models and piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM). SOC stocks were significantly different among the four grazing intensities, and higher stocks were observed with increased intensity. Furthermore, high-intensity grazing was shown to reduce the carbon–nitrogen ratio by negatively affecting the diversity of herbaceous species, which indirectly promoted SOC stocks. In conclusion, this study found that increased grazing intensity promoted SOC stocks both directly and indirectly through herbaceous species diversity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gebremedhn, Haftay Hailu and Taugourdeau, Simon and Mensah, Sylvanus and Chapuis-Lardy, Lydie and Tagesson, Torbern and Moulin, Patricia and Ndiaye, Ousmane and Wieckowski, Aleksander and Salgado, Paulo}},
  issn         = {{1085-3278}},
  keywords     = {{grazing intensity; herbaceous biomass and species diversity; Senegal; soil organic carbon}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{3490--3498}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Land Degradation and Development}},
  title        = {{Grazing Affects Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Directly and Indirectly Through Herbaceous Species Diversity in Sahelian Savanna Ecosystems}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5580}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/ldr.5580}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}