An evaluation of grazing intensity influences on California annual range
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Authors: R. E. Rosiere
Date: 1987
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 40
Number: 2
Pages: 160-165
Summary of Methods: The effects of moderate to heavy sheep use (100, 150, and 200% of moderate use) were measured by Rosiere, on species composition and forage production in two major subtypes, the grass-woodland subtype and the improved grassland subtype, of the California annual grasslands. Species composition varied between the two subtypes, and species composition within both subtypes was affected by grazing intensity. In both subtypes, forage use increased and residue decreased with increasing grazing intensity while production response differed between subtypes. Production in the grass-woodland subtype was not affected by grazing intensity and production in the improved grassland subtype was highest at the 150% of moderate use treatment and lowest at 200% of moderate use treatment. During this experiment, the effects of grazing intensity were minimal compared to the effects of yearly variations in environmental conditions and therefore the authors believe that grazing intensity will not negatively affect yield from these grassland subtypes when stocking rates range between 0.1 and 0.6 AU/ha.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: botanical composition, herbage yield, grazing intensity, annual range, herbage production
Annotation: Both range subtypes were evaluated at grazing intensities of 100, 150, and 200% of moderate use under continuous yearlong grazing by flocks of sheep. For the 10, 150, and 200% moderate use treatments, grass-woodland pastures were grazed on average over the 5-year period by 11, 13, and 8 ewes; while improved annual grassland range units were grazed by 8 ewes. Mean stocking rates of woodland and grassland range for the respective grazing treatments were .6, 1.8, and 3.1 and 5.3, 8.0, and 10.0 ewes/grazable ha. Species composition of pastures was determined at peak standing crop (from last week of April to second week of May) using the step-point procedure. Standing crop and reside or mulch were measured by clipping at ground level.
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