The authors evaluated changes in plant composition and forage productivity on two Chihuahuan Desert ranges with different grazing histories and different histories of woody plant control. A major focus of this study was the influence of stocking rate on recovery of native perennial grasses on rangeland with moderate amounts of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) compared to areas heavily dominated by mesquite. Holechek et al. found that canopy cover of grasses was higher in conservatively grazed ranges than intermediately grazed ranges. Higher levels of honey mesquite and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) were found in the intermediately grazed ranges. Poisonous plant standing crop was higher in intermediately grazed ranges, although no cases of cattle poisoning were recorded during the study period. Total grasses showed little difference between woody control areas and non-controlled areas. Data indicate that some mesquite-dominated ranges in the Chihuahuan Desert are responsive to both favorable rainfall and conservative stocking if residual perennial grasses remain, and that livestock grazing is sustainable under utilization levels that involve removal of one-third of the current year's growth of key forage species (black grama, dropseeds, and threeawns). The authors suggest that on coarse sandy soils with a high canopy cover of honey mesquite, brush control may be necessary to initiate range recovery.
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