National Resource Inventory (NRI)

1997 National Resources Inventory

(Revised December 2000)

Pastureland is land managed for the production of introduced forage plants suitable for grazing or browsing. Pastureland cover may consist of a single species in a pure stand, a grass mixture or a grass legume mixture.

Pastureland represents 6.9 percent of total surface area in Illinois.

The average sheet and rill erosion (water) declined from 1.6 tons per acre per year in 1982 to 1.0 ton per acre per year in 1997 on pastureland.

At an average rate of 1 ton per acre per year, soil erosion posses little threat to pastureland productivity statewide.