In this study, short duration grazing practices significantly reduced the survival of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) seedlings in Utah pastures. Seedlings survival was similar in grazed and ungrazed treatments prior to grazing events and seedling survival in grazed treatments declined after both three-day grazing events, however, the decline was more pronounced after the second grazing event later in the growing season. Survival of plants in grazed treatments was still lower ten months after the last grazing event, suggesting that livestock grazing has lasting effects on seedling survival. Most plant mortality in grazed treatments was caused by trampling of seedlings rather than seedling consumption, and trampling mortality of seedlings was similar across the landscape. Seedlings in close proximity to older grass plants did not have greater survival rates than plants in interspaces.
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