Svejcar and Christiansen measured xylem water potential, stomatal conductance and soil moisture of Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasica) pastures, that were lightly or heavily grazed by cattle. Plants in heavily grazed pastures had less negative water potentials and higher stomatal conductance rates than plants in lightly grazed pastures. Heavily grazed pastures also had greater soil moisture than lightly grazed pastures throughout the growing season. These results indicate that plants in heavily grazed Caucasian bluestem pastures are under less water stress and have the ability to produce more vegetative growth, due to the maintenance of soil moisture in these pastures throughout the growing season.
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