Authors measured standing crop and species composition of southern mixed prairie in Oklahoma subject to 7 years of moderate to heavy grazing. Stocking rate had no effect on standing crop (total, live, or dead) over the years with two minor exceptions; 1990, the first year of the study, dead standing crop was not lower at high stocking rates, and 1996 when precipitation was 40% above average, there was an accumulation of live standing crop at low stocking rates. Slopes of regression lines relating standing crop and stocking rate were constant over years, indicating no response for plant productivity. In species composition only threeawns (Aristida spp.) and tallgrasses responded to the treatments (increasing and decreasing with increased stocking rate respectively), but threeawns actually increased more at low stocking rates (opposite response than expected from an invader), and tallgrasses comprised only 5-6% of total herbage. In conclusion, there was higher consumption of herbage due to greater amounts of animals at high stocking rates but no detrimental effects on plant vigor or productivity at the community level.
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