Seed bank density and species composition were compared among ungrazed pastures and pastures managed with continuous heavy or moderate deferred rotational grazing for 36 years in a Texas desert grassland. The density and species richness of the seedbank tended to be greatest in the ungrazed pasture, intermediate in the rotationally grazed pasture and lowest in the continuously grazed pasture, however, the differences were sometimes small and not significant. The species composition of the seed bank did differ among grazing treatments; the seed bank in the ungrazed pasture was dominated by mid- and late-seral perennial monocot species whereas the seed bank in the continuously grazed pasture was dominated by early seral annual dicot species and the seed bank in the rotationally grazed pasture contained all seral species and was a combination of annuals, perennials, monocots and dicots. Based on these results the authors concluded that grazing management affects seed bank dynamics in this Texas desert grassland and that present grazing management will impact succession of this grassland following future disturbances.
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