Watts et al. summarize the vegetation composition of pastures managed under rest-rotation and continuous grazing systems for 10 years, following fire in the Missouri River Breaks. Rest-rotation grazing maintained grass, forb, and bare ground cover in most pastures, however, in the Xanthium strumarium association, cover of forbs was lower and bare ground cover was greater in grazed areas. Continuous grazing caused declines in grass, shrub, and litter cover, while increasing bare ground. Based on the results of this study, rest-rotation grazing and continuous grazing at stocking rates lower than those used in this study are recommended to maintain vegetation communities following fire in the Missouri River Breaks.
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