Integration of cover crops and livestock (ICLS) in an existing corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cropping system can be an effective strategy to improve soil physical and hydrological properties. Three on-farm long-term (≥30 yr) sites (Sites 1, 2 and 3) and one short-term (3 yr) experimental site (Site 4) with a randomized block design in eastern South Dakota were selected to evaluate the impacts of ICLS on soil physical and hydrological properties. At Sites 1, 2, and 3, the following long-term management systems were compared: ICLS (corn/grazing–soybean/grazing–cover crop/grazing), control (CNT, corn–soybean with no cover crop and no grazing), and a grazed pasture (GP). At Site 4, the treatments included ICLS (corn/grazing–soybean/grazing–oat [Avena sativa L.]–cover crop/grazing], cover crop (corn–soybean–oat–cover crop with no grazing), CNT (corn–soybean–oat without cover crop and grazing), and GP. Data showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) was higher by 20–26% and bulk density was lower by 18–37% in long-term ICLS compared with CNT. Long-term ICLS also improved soil water retention, macroporosity, infiltration rate, and total porosity compared with the CNT. However, these properties were not affected by short-term ICLS at Site 4. The GP had the lower soil bulk density and higher SOC and infiltration rate compared with ICLS and the CNT except at Site 4. This study showed that long-term integration of cover crops and livestock grazing under ICLS can be beneficial in enhancing soil physical and hydrological properties. However, whether such integration improves other soil quality parameters and crop yield requires further investigation.

中文翻译：

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受短期和长期综合作物-牲畜农业生态系统影响的水物理土壤特性

将覆盖作物和牲畜 (ICLS) 整合到现有的玉米 ( Zea mays L.)-大豆 [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] 种植系统中，可以成为改善土壤物理和水文特性的有效策略。在南达科他州东部选择了三个具有随机区组设计的农场长期（≥30 年）地点（地点 1、2 和 3）和一个短期（3 年）实验地点（地点 4）来评估ICLS 对土壤物理和水文特性的影响。在站点 1、2 和 3，比较了以下长期管理系统：ICLS（玉米/放牧-大豆/放牧-覆盖作物/放牧）、对照（CNT、玉米-大豆，无覆盖作物和无放牧） , 和放牧的牧场 (GP)。在站点 4，处理包括 ICLS（玉米/放牧 - 大豆/放牧 - 燕麦 [燕麦L.]-覆盖作物/放牧]、覆盖作物（玉米-大豆-燕麦-无放牧的覆盖作物）、CNT（无覆盖作物和放牧的玉米-大豆-燕麦）和 GP。数据显示，与 CNT 相比，长期 ICLS 的土壤有机碳 (SOC) 高 20-26%，堆积密度低 18-37%。与 CNT 相比，长期 ICLS 还改善了土壤保水、大孔隙率、渗透率和总孔隙率。然而，这些特性不受站点 4 短期 ICLS 的影响。与站点 4 以外的 ICLS 和 CNT 相比，GP 具有较低的土壤容重和较高的 SOC 和入渗速率。该研究表明，长期整合ICLS 下的覆盖作物和牲畜放牧有助于提高土壤物理和水文特性。然而，