Recovery rate of Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.) in a simulated short duration grazing system

Abstract

A nearly monospecific stand of Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees.) was grazed by cattle during two summer growing seasons to simulate short duration grazing. Grazing treatments were timed to coincide with preboot, boot to early inflorescence and hard seed phenological stages. During each treatment, grazing intensity on individual plants included heavy, moderate or light intensities. In 1990 maximum regrowth occurred when plants were grazed during boot to early inflorescence and at a light grazing intensity. In 1991, plants grazed during preboot or boot to early inflorescence and at a light or moderate intensity produced higher regrowth amounts than the other treatments. Plants grazed during boot to early inflorescence recovered significantly faster than plants grazed during preboot in 1990 and 1991. In 1990 lightly grazed plants recovered biomass faster than plants grazed at heavier intensities. In 1991 plants grazed at light and moderate grazing intensities recovered significantly faster than heavily grazed plants. Heavily grazed plants never produced enough regrowth to resemble moderately or lightly grazed plants within one growing season.