Irrigated Pastures in Arizona

Abstract

A pasture is a parcel of land sown to low growing plants suitable for grazing by animals (Fig. 1). The plants could be grasses and/or legumes. Pastures may be intended for only a single cropping season or, more typically, are more permanent in nature and based on perennial plant species although annual plant species may be over-seeded into a permanent pasture. The animals that graze pastures may include cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Irrigated pastures are used as a convenient way to feed livestock without the labor, expense, and equipment required to harvest forage particularly for small farms. Most pastures in Arizona are not productive without irrigation and tend to be intentionally seeded with particular plant species, which will be the focus of this publication.