Grazing Effects on Runoff and Vegetation on Western South Dakota Rangeland

Abstract

Four 2-acre watersheds were established in 1962 on each of three pastures that had been grazed at different intensities (heavy, moderate and light) since 1942. These watersheds were located at the Cottonwood Range Field Station, Cottonwood, South Dakota. The mean seasonal runoff from May 14 through October 31 for 1963 through 1967 was 0.79, 0.56 and 0.42 inch for the heavily, moderately and lightly used watersheds, respectively. The mean weight of live and dead standing crop of vegetation plus mulch in late July was 1,752, 2,092 and 3,700 pounds per acre for the heavily, moderately and lightly used watersheds, respectively.