Perennial Irrigated Pastures. I. Plant, Soil Water, and Animal Responses Under Rotational and Continuous Grazing1

Abstract

AbstractContinuous grazing favored strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L. ‘Salina’), and rotational grazing (5‐field; 1‐week grazing, 4‐week recovery) favored Ladino clover (T. repens L.) in a sward containing Ladino clover, ‘Salina’ strawberry clover, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). A 2‐field rotation (I‐week, I‐week) favored strawberry clover but had less influence on botanical composition than either 5‐field rotation or continuous grazing. Continuous grazing resulted in a higher percentage of plant cover than did 5‐field rotational grazing. Yields of beef per unit area were similar under the three systems. Water infiltration increased progressively during the 4 years of the experiment, and final infiltration rates were 2 to 3 cm/hr in both continuous and rotationally grazed pastures.