Cullan et al. investigate the effects of early summer stocking rates on prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) in the Nebraska sandhills. Over a two-year period, grazing pressure accounted for 69% of the variation in number of grazed tillers in 18 out of 21 pastures. However, tiller mortality was generally less than 1%, and the effects of grazing on tiller recruitment were inconsistent and overridden by environmental factors. Although prairie sandreed seemed to be tolerant of grazing, high selectivity by cattle (67% utilization) may cause high early summer grazing pressure at recommended season long stocking rates.
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