Range condition, vegetation production, composition, and cover were compared between lightly and moderately grazed rangelands in the Chihuahuan Desert in southwestern New Mexico to determine if these levels of utilization were sustainable in this area. Compared to light use, moderate use increased shrub cover and reduced total standing crop and cover of grasses, forbs, and black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda), an important grass species in this area. Over the 13 year study, the lightly grazed pasture increased in range condition, whereas range condition on the moderately used pasture declined, probably due to the lower stubble heights remaining after moderate utilization which decreased survival of perennial grasses. These results suggest that light use (25-35% use of key forage species) on arid grasslands is sustainable while moderate use will cause range degradation, however, the authors caution that even light use in drought years will cause range degradation and grazing management in these areas should be adapted to forage and weather conditions.
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