Latest Publications
Interactions of long-term grazing and woody encroachment can shift soil biogeochemistry and microbiomes in savanna ecosystems
Ryan M. Mushinski, Yong Zhou, Ayumi Hyodo, Claudio Casola, Thomas W. Boutton
We investigated the interactions between livestock grazing history (none, moderate, heavy) and vegetation cover (grassland, juniper, oak) using a ∼ 70-year grazing experiment in west-central Texas. We explored effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), microbial community composition, and function. The findings highlight how long-term livestock grazing and woody plant encroachment influence soil C, N, P cycles, altering soil microbial community structure and function. This study provides insights for savanna ecosystem management and integrating land cover effects into biogeochemical models for global change scenarios.