VEGETATIONAL RESPONSE TO SHORT-DURATION AND CONTINUOUS GRAZING IN SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW-MEXICO

Vegetational response of a nine-paddock, short-duration grazing cell was compared to that of a continuous pasture for a 5-year period in southcentral New Mexico. Differences in vegetational response to short-duration and continuous grazing on blue grama rangeland were small. Basal plant cover was slightly higher for the short-duration pastures, but end-of-season standing crop of all species was similar for both systems. Blue grama aboveground productivity and basal cover were higher for the short-duration pastures than for the continuously-grazed pasture. Possible short-term results from short-duration grazing include slightly higher stocking rates and a positive response of blue grama.