The authors measured soil water in several grassland ecosystems under different grazing treatments. Soil water was generally reduced at all depths by grazing, with differences between the controls and the grazed treatments less pronounced at 0-30 cm than at 30-50 or 50-80 cm. Heavy intensity and/or early season grazing had more impact on soil water than light intensity and/or late season grazing. Season of grazing affected soil water more under light grazing intensities than under heavy grazing ones. Normal soil water patterns were not affected by grazing, with increases due to spring recharge and summer declines due to evapotranspiration. Higher infiltration rates in controls compensated for higher evapotranspiration. Lower soil water on grazed treatments resulted from a combination of reduced infiltration and recharge of the soil profile and evapotranspiration.
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