Overview. Worldwide, human impact is negatively affecting the environment in a wide range of several ways (e.g., land use/cover changes, agriculture, urbanization, etc.). One of the most relevant impacts is related to the grazing intensification, which modified the grasslands inducing some structural changes with negative environmental consequences. The many research revealed that non-planned pasture practices have complex effects such as soil compaction, loss of biodiversity or nutrient decreases. According to this fact, grass conservation strategies are widely recognized as one of the most important hydrological control measures (nonstructural; as a natural buffer) for flow regulation and soil erosion control.

The scientific community stated that intensive grazing is one of the key factors affecting runoff (overland flow) occurrence on the hillslopes and sheet erosion. Hydrological grazing effects were analyzed especially in the mountain areas during spring and autumn; this showed clear differences of soil compaction, depending on the soil moisture conditions which reduced infiltration rates of the underlying soils and increased runoff coefficients and subsequently, was revealed an increased soil erosion. Grazing practices can affect catchment hydrology by altering vegetation cover and soil properties, and amplify soil loss and flood peak downstream. Grass management is widely recognized as one of the most important hydrological control measures (natural buffer) for flow regulation and soil erosion control.

Our goal with the Grazing Effects on Runoff and Soil Erosion over Grassland – A field Plot-Scale Hydrologic Experimental Approach (GERSEG) project is to provide an overview of the hydrological impacts of grazing in the Curvature Subcarpathians hillslopes (Romania), under different environmental conditions (see field sampling area). A novel approach, based on combining quantitative (e.g., field experiments) and qualitative (see: field interviews) methods will be adopted.