Effects of short duration and high-intensity, low-frequency grazing systems on forage production and composition.

Abstract

Research was conducted at the Sonora Research Station during a 4-year period (1984 to 1988) to measure differences in herbaceous vegetation response between two 7-pasture 1-herd grazing systems. Grazing tactics were short duration (SDG-7 days graze, 42 days rest) and high intensity, low frequency (HILF-14 days graze, 84 days rest). Stocking rate for the 2 treatments was 10.4 ha/auy. Total aboveground net primary production (ANPP) varied significantly among years but not between grazing treatments. Significant, divergent shifts in composition did occur over the 4 years as a function of grazing treatment. Shortgrass production in the SDG pastures increased from 45% of the total ANPP for year 1 to 74% for year 4. Shortgrass ANPP in the HILF pastures comprised 44% of the total herbaceous production for year 1 and 51% for year 4. Midgrass ANPP in SDG pastures comprised 3.8% of the herbaceous production for year 1 and 13.6% for year 4. Midgrass production in the HILF pastures represented 4.7% for year 1 and 33.9% for year 4. Our data indicate the SDG system did not promote secondary succession from shortgrasses to midgrasses as effectively as did the HILF system.