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Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability
Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Schnugh, Monique |
| author2 | Van Zyl, Johan Hendrik Combrink
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| author_browse | Schnugh, Monique Van Zyl, Johan Hendrik Combrink |
| author_facet | Van Zyl, Johan Hendrik Combrink
Schnugh, Monique |
| author_sort | Schnugh, Monique |
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| description | Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132445 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:27.789Z |
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| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
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| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132445 Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability Schnugh, Monique Van Zyl, Johan Hendrik Combrink Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Animal Science. Grazing Plants -- Effect of grazing on Soils -- Fertilizer movement Soils -- Quality Cattle -- Manure Soils -- Health Soils -- Fertility Cattle -- Feeding and feeds Soils and nutrition Vineyards -- Soils UCTD Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Schnugh, M. 2025. Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/933bc516-7866-4d79-9bec-5554eb5eb2d3 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Higher food demands and increased pressure on agricultural production systems have led to increased intensification and specialisation of agricultural practices, which in turn can pose detrimental effects on the environment. Inorganic fertilisers are one of the main pollutants in agricultural practices, and with increased reliance on such inorganic chemicals, concerns are rising for the effects that it could have on the environment and non-renewable agricultural resources, such as soil. The integration of livestock into crop production systems have the potential to, not only improve soil properties, but also increase profitability and the amount of food produced per ha of land. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of fertiliser and cattle manure on soil fertility and health, with the integration of cattle into vineyard cover crops, where cover crop and animal production and profitability was considered. The study was evaluated over two years, where data was collected over two production seasons. Four treatment groups were considered for the effects of fertiliser and cattle on soil properties: unfertilised grazing without cattle (UGC), fertilised grazing without cattle (UGF), unfertilised grazing with cattle (CG), and fertilised grazing with cattle (FG). During each year, 12 Dexter steers ranging between 10-16 months of age, were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: unfertilised grazing (CG) or fertilised grazing (FG). A strip grazing approach was applied, where the steers grazed a commercial cover crop mix planted prior to each experimental trial, for 74- and 43-days during year 1 and year 2 respectively. Soil samples were collected before and after both experimental trials, for the analysis of soil fertility and health properties. Cover crop production was measured before each grazing cycle, where forage samples were collected to determine cover crop growth and herbage yield, as well as forage quality for each respective treatment group. During both years, the steers were weighed at six occasions over the duration of the trial (year 1: bi-weekly; year 2: weekly), where individual weight measurements were used for the prediction of dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio with a commercial feed modelling program (AMTS. Cat). Cattle manure samples were collected during both trials, where individual faecal samples were collected during year 1 and year 2, and individual urine samples were collected during year 2. Manure samples were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content, to determine the cycling of nutrients by cattle in an integrated system. Profitability was measured to determine the difference between the two treatment groups and whether the additional cost of fertiliser can be justified by increased animal production. During the first part of the study, no differences were observed with the application of fertiliser on soil fertility or health properties. The presence of cattle showed to increase (P < 0.05) soil exchangeable potassium and extractable boron content, where a decrease (P < 0.05) in soil organic carbon was observed with the presence of cattle. Soil exchangeable magnesium and extractable phosphorus, nitrate, total nitrogen and zinc decreased (P < 0.05) over two years. Soil nematode community structures were not affected by the application of fertiliser or the presence of cattle, where increased (P < 0.05) bacterial feeders and decreased (P < 0.05) fungal feeders were observed over two years. Soil health nematode indices were not affected by the application of fertiliser or presence of cattle, where improved (P < 0.05) decomposition, with increased (P < 0.05) bacterial-dominated pathways were observed over two years. Cover crop production showed higher (P < 0.05) daily growth and herbage yield with the application of fertiliser during both years. Although some benefits were observed with the integration of cattle, the effects on soil properties were inconsistent with previous studies and should be investigated further over several years, to determine the build-up effect of the nutrients in soil. The second part of the study showed higher (P < 0.05) final body weight measurements and dry matter intake for steers in the fertilised grazing group during year 1, however, no differences observed between the two treatment groups during year 2. During year 1, higher (P < 0.05) dry matter intake for unfertilised grazing cattle showed to increase (P < 0.05) nutrient cycling, however, no differences were observed between the two treatment groups during year 2. Profitability analyses during both years showed that even with increased stocking rate, due to higher dry matter content observed in the fertilised grazing, the additional cost of fertiliser can still not be justified by animal production (P < 0.05), compared to unfertilised grazing on both an individual or per ha basis. Inconsistent production parameters and nutrient cycling observed over the two years, suggest that further research should focus on the effects of fertilised grazing on animal production and nutrient cycling via manure over a longer period. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoër aanvrae na kos en toenemende druk op landbou produksie stelsels het gelei na ‘n toeneming in intensifisering en spesialisering van landbou praktyke, wat gevolglik nadelige effekte vir die omgewing kan inhou. Anorganiese kunsmis stowwe word beskou as een van die hoof besoedeling stowwe in landbou praktyke, en met ‘n toenemende afhanklikheid van sodanige anorganiese chemikalieë, neem bekommernisse toe oor die effekte wat dit vir die omgewing en nie-hernubare landbou bronne, soos grond, kan inhou. Die integrasie van vee in gewasproduksie stelsels het die potensiaal om nie net grond eienskappe te verbeter nie, maar ook winsgewendheid en die hoeveelheid voedsel wat per hektaar grond geproduseer word, te verhoog. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die effekte van kunsmis en beesmis en -uriene op grond vrugbaarheid en gesondheid te evalueer, met die integrasie van beeste in wingerd dekgewasse, waar dekgewas- en diereproduksie sowel as winsgewendheid oorweeg is. Die studie is oor twee jaar geëvalueer, waar data oor twee produksie seisoene versamel is. Vier behandelingsgroepe is oorweeg vir die effekte van kunsmis en beeste op grondeienskappe: weiding sonder kunsmis en beeste (UGC), weiding met kunsmis sonder beeste (UGF), weiding sonder kunsmis met beeste (CG), en weiding met kunsmis en beeste (FG). Gedurende beide jare, is 12 Dexter-osse, tussen 10 en 16 maande oud, lukraak aan een van die twee behandelingsgroepe toegewys: weiding sonder kunsmis (CG) en weiding met kunsmis (FG). ‘n Strookweiding benadering is toegepas, waar die osse vir 74 en 43 dae gedurende jaar 1 en jaar 2 onderskeidelik, ‘n dekgewasmengsel wat voor elke eksperimentele proef geplant is, bewei het. Grondmonsters is voor en na beide eksperimentele proewe versamel vir die ontleding van grondvrugbaarheid en grondgesondheid eienskappe. Dekgewas produksie is gemeet voor elke weidingsiklus, sowel as voerkwaliteit vir elke onderskeie behandelingsgroep. Gedurende beide jare is die osse op ses geleenthede geweeg oor die duur van die proef (jaar 1: twee-weekliks); jaar 2: weekliks), waar individuele gewigsmetings gebruik is vir die voorspelling van droëmateriaal innames, gemiddelde daaglikse toename en voeromsetverhouding met ‘n kommersiële voermodelleringprogram (AMTS. Farm.Cattle). Beesmis monsters is gedurende beide proewe versamel, waar individuele mis monsters in jaar 1 en jaar 2, en individuele uriene monsters in jaar 2 versamel is. Mis en uriene monsters is ontleed vir stikstof-, fosfor- en kaliuminhoud om die herwinning van voedingstowwe deur beeste in ‘n geïntegreerde stelsel te bepaal. Winsgewendheid is gemeet om die verskil tussen die twee behandelingsgroepe te bepaal en of die addisionele koste van kunsmis geregverdig kan word deur verhoogde diereproduksie. Gedurende die eerste deel van die studie is geen verskille waargeneem met die toediening van kunsmis op grondvrugbaarheid of gesondheid eienskappe. Die teenwoordigheid van beeste het getoon dat uitruilbare kalium en ekstraheerbare boorinhoud in die grond toegeneem het (P < 0.05), terwyl ‘n afname (P < 0.05) in grond organise koolstof waargeneem is met die teenwoordigheid van beeste. Uitruilbare magensium en ekstrakteerbare fosfor, nitraat, total stikstof en sink het oor twee jaar afgeneem (P < 0.05). Grondaalwurm-gemeenskapstrukture is nie deur die toediening van kunsmis of die teenwoordigheid van beeste beïnvloed nie (P > 0.05), waar verhoogde (P < 0.05) bakteriese voeders en verlaagde (P < 0.05) swam voeders oor twee jaar waargeneem is. Grond gesondheid aalwurm- indekse is nie beïnvloed deur die toediening van kunsmis of die teenwoordigheid van beeste nie (P > 0.05), waar verbeterde (P < 0.05) ontbinding, met verhoogde (P < 0.05) bakteries-gedomineerde kanale oor twee jaar waargeneem is. Dekgewasse het hoër (P < 0.05) daaglikse groei en weiding opbrengs per siklus getoon met die toediening van kunsmis, gedurende beide jare. Alhoewel sommige voordele waargeneem is met die integrasie van beeste, was die effekte op grondeienskappe nie konsekwent met vorige studies nie, en behoort verder ondersoek te word oor verskeie jare om die op-bou effek van die voedingstowwe in die grond te bepaal. Die tweede deel van die studie het hoër (P < 0.05) finale liggaamsgewigte en droëmateriaal innames vir osse in die weiding sonder kunsmis groep gedurende jaar 1 getoon, maar geen verskille tussen die twee behandelingsgroepe is gedurende jaar 2 waargeneem nie. Gedurende jaar 1 het hoër (P < 0.05) droëmateriaal innames vir beeste in weiding sonder kunsmis, getoon dat meer (P < 0.05) voedingstowwe gesirkuleer word, maar geen verskille is tussen die twee behandelingsgroepe gedurende jaar 2 waargeneem nie. Winsgewendheidsontledings gedurende beide jare het getoon dat selfs met verhoogde drakrag, as gevolg van hoër droëmateriaalinhoud in weiding met kunsmis, kan die addisionele koste van kunsmis steeds nie geregverdig word deur diereproduksie (P < 0.05) nie, in vergelyking met weiding sonder kunsmis op beide ‘n individuele of per ha basis. Wisselvallige produksie parameters en voedingstof sirkulasie wat oor die twee jaar waargeneem is, dui daarop dat verdere navorsing oor die effekte van kunsmis toediening op weiding, op beide diereproduksie en voedingstofsirkulasie deur beesmis en -uriene, oor ‘n langer periode gefokus moet word. Masters 2025-06-09T06:24:45Z 2025-06-09T06:24:45Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132445 en Stellenbosch University xvi, 110 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Grazing Plants -- Effect of grazing on Soils -- Fertilizer movement Soils -- Quality Cattle -- Manure Soils -- Health Soils -- Fertility Cattle -- Feeding and feeds Soils and nutrition Vineyards -- Soils UCTD Schnugh, Monique Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title | Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title_full | Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title_fullStr | Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title_short | Integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health, cover crop production, and animal production and profitability |
| title_sort | integrating grazing cattle into vineyards and its effect on soil fertility and health cover crop production and animal production and profitability |
| topic | Grazing Plants -- Effect of grazing on Soils -- Fertilizer movement Soils -- Quality Cattle -- Manure Soils -- Health Soils -- Fertility Cattle -- Feeding and feeds Soils and nutrition Vineyards -- Soils UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132445 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT schnughmonique integratinggrazingcattleintovineyardsanditseffectonsoilfertilityandhealthcovercropproductionandanimalproductionandprofitability |