United States Department of Agriculture 548-CPS-1

NRCS, NHCP

July 2022

NRCS reviews and periodically updates conservation practice standards. To obtain the current 

version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service State office or 

visit the Field Office Technical Guide online by going to the NRCS website at 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and type FOTG in the search field. 

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Natural Resources Conservation Service 

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 

GRAZING LAND MECHANICAL TREATMENT 

CODE 548 

(ac)

DEFINITION 

Modifying physical soil and/or plant conditions with mechanical treatments. 

PURPOSE 

This practice is used to accomplish one or more of the following purposes: 

• Fracture compacted soil layers and improve soil permeability 

• Reduce water runoff and increase infiltration 

• Break up root-bound conditions and thatch to increase plant vigor 

• Renovate and stimulate the plant community for greater productivity and yield 

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES 

This standard applies to pastureland, rangeland, grazed forest, and native pastures where the slopes are

less than 20 percent. 

CRITERIA 

General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes 

Plan, design, and implement this practice to comply with all Federal, State and local regulations. The

landowner must obtain any required permits. The landowner/contractor is responsible for locating buried

utilities, drain tile, and other structures within the treatment area. 

Design mechanical treatments to accomplish the desired objectives and address the natural resource

concerns. 

Limit mechanical treatments such as contour furrowing, pitting, chiseling, ripping, or subsoiling to soils and

slopes where surface disturbances will not result in unacceptable levels of soil erosion. Conduct these

operations on the contour to reduce the potential for erosion. 

Use surface and soil disturbing mechanical treatments such as flailing, mulching, shredding, and slashing

to break up thatch, tussock, or root-bound conditions to improve plant vigor. Limit the use of these

practices to terrain and soil conditions that are conducive to this type of mechanical treatment. 

Treatment areas must— 

• Be relatively free of undesirable or noxious plants that will spread as a result of disturbance. 

• Contain sufficient quantities and distribution of desirable plants to take advantage of improved

growing conditions as a result of the treatment. 

• Have adequate rest from grazing to ensure the desired plant response from the treatment. 
• Have suitable soil moisture conditions (not too wet) at the time of treatment. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

Grazing land mechanical treatment is often used in conjunction with other NRCS Conservation Practice

Standards (CPSs) to improve grazing conditions. Consider Using NRCS CPSs Range Planting (Code

550), Pasture and Hay Planting (Code 512), Prescribed Grazing (Code 528), Herbaceous Weed

Treatment (Code 315), and Nutrient Management (Code 590). 

Soil disturbance resulting from this practice can result in an increase in noxious or invasive plants

following treatment. 

Increased surface roughness from the practice may make the treated area undesirable for some uses. 

The use of a probe or other suitable tool can help identify compacted layers within the treatment area that

may need additional treatment. 

Soil disturbance from the practice may impact an animal’s ability to navigate the terrain following

treatment. Ensure the treatment and resulting conditions are suitable for grazing animals, or keep animals

off the treated areas until conditions are suitable. 

To avoid negatively impacting wet soils following a rip or chisel treatment, consider scheduling 2 or more

years of seasonally-deferred grazing. 

Consider appropriate treatment intensity to stimulate the plant community and ensure a desirable species

response. 

If the selected mechanical treatment exceeds the depth of prior ground disturbances, this activity could

affect buried cultural resources. 

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS 

Prepare plans and specifications that describe the requirements for applying the practice according to this

standard. As a minimum, include— 

• A map or plan view showing the land areas to be treated. 

• Written specifications that describe the details and timing for applying the treatment. 

• Job sheets or other detailed information specific to the treatment to be used. 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 

Prepare an operation and maintenance plan for the operator. As a minimum, include— 

• A schedule for periodic monitoring to ensure the desired plants and soil conditions return to the

treated area. 

• A grazing schedule for the treated area developed using NRCS CPS Prescribed Grazing (Code

528). 

• Recommendations for maintenance activities to ensure the long-term health of the treated area. 

REFERENCES 

Barbosa, R.A., D.N. Junior, H.H. Vilela, B.M. Lana Sousa, S.C. Silva, V.P. Euclides, and M.C. Silveira.

2012. Morphogenetic and Structural Characteristics of Guinea Grass Tillers at Different Ages Under

Intermittent Stocking. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 41(7): 1583-1588. 

Griffith, L.W., G.E. Schuman, F. Rauzi, and R.E. Baumgartner. 1985. Mechanical Renovation of

Shortgrass Prairie for Increased Herbage Production. Journal of Range Management 38: 7-10. 

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Miyamoto, D.L., G.E.Schuman, and R.A.Olson. 2004. Long-term Effects of Mechanical Renovation of a

Mixed Grass Prairie: Carbon and Nitrogen Balance. Arid Land Research and Management 18(2): 141-

151. https://doi.org/10.1080/15324980490280807

Vallentine, J.F. 1977. Range Development and Improvements. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University

Press. 

Whisenant, S.G. 1999. Repairing Damaged Wildlands. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. 

Wilcox, B.P., W.E. Fox, L.J. Prcin, J. McAlister, J. Wolfe, D.M. Thomas, R.W. Knight, D.W. Hoffman, and

F.E. Smeins. 2012. Contour Ripping is More Beneficial Than Composted Manure for Restoring Degraded

Rangelands in Central Texas. Journal of Environmental Management 111: 87-95.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.06.029

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July 2022