Dryland cover crop soil health benefits are maintained with grazing in the U.S. High and Central Plains

Cover crops are important for soil conservation efforts but can compete with cash limited water in dryland agricultural systems. Grazing cover may provide additional income to improve the profitability of cropped systems, effect grazing on health remains poorly understood semi-arid regions. We conducted on-farm research examine short-term effects grazed and un-grazed spring-planted compared full summer fallow metrics wheat yields across ten no-till, producer fields over two years eastern Colorado, western Kansas Nebraska, USA. Soils were evaluated at crop termination following three months growth differences a suite physical chemical properties. Grazed increased aggregation relative by 30−50%. Surface bulk density (0−5 cm) decreased 4% crops, while under was similar fallow. Soil moisture top180 cm depth reduced 4–22 % greatest depletion occurring below 30 cm, did not appear affect crops. Both treatments roughly 20 %. The improvements key largely maintained grazing, indicating potential livestock integration as management option offset yield impacts use water-limited environments.