Thurow et al. studied infiltration rates and erosion on a continuously grazed, moderately stocked pasture for 29 years, as well as a heavy and moderately grazed pastures under continuous, high-intensity low frequency, and short duration grazing systems for up to 6 years. Moderate continuous grazing maintained infiltration during 2 drought years (separated by 2 years of above average precipitation), due to greater cover of warm-season grasses. In contrast, because midgrasses decreased under the heavily stocked continuous and short duration grazing systems (in which range recovery did not occur during the interim wet years), infiltration rates were significantly lower. Similarly, interrill erosion increased significantly following each drought period under heavy grazing, while the moderate treatments recovered to pre-drought erosion levels.
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