Is pasture rest
time or timing?
The purpose of pasture rest is to increase landscape carbon stocks
in all forms to increase ‘resilience’ not just grow a bit more feed.
Plant Resilience
Soil Resilience
Energy Reserves & Root Volume
Soil Structure, Organic Matter & Humus
These are Carbon Issues
These are Carbon Issues
Therefore
There is a need to “maximise” all forms of
landscape carbon
Moisture promotes carbon introduction
via photosynthesis
The bulk of carbon arrives in the short
period immediately following rain
This is why pasture rest is “timing” not “time”
The basis of Carbon Grazing :
4-6 weeks rest immediately after rain
®
Outcomes of Resilience
Carbon Grazing is short term pasture rest following rain
Old Man Saltbush
plantations allow
short term resting of
pastures at the end
of dry spells
Less methane
Higher Digestibility
Rested Pasture
Carbon Grazing
• Less methane per kg of production from ruminants
• Reduced impact of drought
• Increased profits
• Improved water quality
• Reduced impact of climate change
• Remove more CO2 from the atmosphere
• Increased pasture digestibility
See insert
below
Both production and
methane are linked to
digestibility (win/win)
Continuous Grazing
Unrested pastures
have lower soil carbon
levels
Unrested pasture
Lower digestibility
More methane per kg
of production
In dry times, saltbush
rows improve
digestibility (the
cornerstone of
methane reduction)
by improving the
carbon:nitrogen ratio
of the total diet
Old Man Saltbush rows
Introducing carbon through short rests increases pasture digestibility
www.carbongrazing.com.au
www.saltbushsystems.com.au