Standing Crop Patterns under Short Duration Grazing in Northern Mexico

Abstract

Patterns of end-of-season standing crop were evaluated during a 4-year period on an oak-bunchgrass range site under shortduration grazing in northern Mexico. Patterns weredetermined as a function of reduction of tinding crop biomass of grease8 witbin strata (300 m e8cb) from 8 central watering point. Signifhnt differences in endslae8son standing crop (KO.05) were found among the strata. Four-year average standing crop biomass was 383 kg/br witbin 300 m from the central watering point; wherea% standing crop biomass was 53% 691,855, and 805 kg/ha within strata 300-600,600-900,~1,200, and 1,200-1,500 m from the centnl watering point, respectively.

Acceptability of plant species along grazing gradients around watering points in Tunisian arid zone

“…Likely, Geerken and Ilaiwi (2004) showed a decrease of perennial recovery, an increased mortality of woody plants and their replacement by less productive species under overgrazing. Concerning herbaceous plants, Soltero et al (1989), Fusco et al (1995) and Thrash (2000) concluded that these plants are more sensible to grazing activities around water. Their biomass is significantly reduced in the first 300 m from wells and their cover increases with greater distances.…”

Paddock Size and Stocking Density Affect Spatial Heterogeneity of Grazing

“…However, at the Jornada Experimental Range in the Chihuahuan Desert, grazing was more uniform in a 34.7-ha, 10-paddock cell when the rotation was flexible according to growth rate and light utilization than when it was calendar-based, or than in a 33.6-ha paddock grazed season-long at lower stocking density (Anderson 1988). Bryant et al (1989) stated that in a study near Plains, Texas, distribution was improved with IRG in relatively large paddocks (180-and 260-ha cells, each with six paddocks) such that higher stocking rates could be maintained, but noted that standing crop increased with distance from water in another SDG cell (Soltero et al 1989) and concluded that ''doubt has been cast on the theory that [SDG] improves animal distribution' ' (p. 296).…”

Effects of livestock watering sites on alien and native plants in the Mojave Desert, USA

“…For example, the characteristics of soil nutrients (Tolsma et al, 1987;Perkins and Thomas, 1993;Turner, 1998a, b), soil compaction (Andrew and Lange, 1986a), microtopography (Nash et al, 2003), cryptogamic crusts (Rogers and Lange, 1971;Andrew and Lange, 1986a), and seedbanks (Navie et al, 1996) can vary with proximity to watering sites. Plant communities vary in biomass, cover, defoliation (Andrew and Lange, 1986b;Tolsma et al, 1987;Soltero et al, 1989;McClaran and Anable, 1992;Fusco et al, 1995;Fernandez-Gimenez and Allen-Diaz, 1999) species composition (Andrew and Lange, 1986b;Tolsma et al, 1987;Tueller and Platou, 1991;Perkins and Thomas, 1993;Nash et al, 1999; but see Van Rooyen et al, 1994 for exceptions), and reproductive output (Riginos and Hoffman, 2003). Generalized ''ecosystem health'' can also vary with grazing intensity near artificial watering sites (de Soyza et al, 1997).…”