Weltz and Wood examined the influence of short-duration grazing, continuous grazing, and exclusion from grazing on soil erosion, in terms of sediment concentration and total suspended sediment production on two range sites in south central and east central New Mexico. Sediment concentration was the same for all treatments near Ft. Stanton. Total sediment production was greater on all grazed treatments compared to the exclosure, without significant differences between the grazed sites. Doubling the stocking rate and applying a short-duration system, near Ft. Sumner, resulted in greater sediment concentration. Total sediment production in the grazed, short-duration pasture was triple that in the moderate, continuous pasture. Although short-duration grazing has advantages over the conventional, continuous year-long or season-long grazing, it does not appear to be a cure-all for all rangelands. After these rangelands were grazed in a short-duration paddock, the soil surface was susceptible to accelerated erosion. Scattering the cattle over the entire area created problems with distribution and herd control, but seemed to have lower risks of environmental damage as expressed by soil erosion.
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