In a two year study, Warren et al. measured infiltration rates and sediment production on three pastures that were part of an intensive rotational grazing system. Stocking rates were held constant during the study and pasture size was used to manipulate stocking density. Within each treatment, the midgrass interspaces produced higher infiltration rates and lower sediment production than shortgrass interspaces. The results of the study showed that increased stocking density did not have a significant beneficial impact on soil hydrologic conditions, as was hypothesized. Instead, the length of rest periods appears to have the greatest positive impact on soil hydrologic conditions.
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