Effects of Cattle Grazing and Juniperus pinchotii Canopy Cover on Herb Cover and Production in Western Texas

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Abstract
Effects of redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) on species composition and biomass production of the herbaceous layer were evaluated for 3 yr on an ungrazed site and a site with past cattle grazing in western Texas. Herb production and grass production decreased as juniper cover increased. Species composition differed between ungrazed and formerly grazed sites, and the formerly grazed site produced less grass biomass than the ungrazed site during each year. The inverse relationship between juniper cover and grass production was linear on the ungrazed site and logarithmic on the formerly grazed site during all 3 yr of the study, suggesting that grazing resulted in a competitive advantage to the overstory species. This relationship persisted for at least 5 yr following release from grazing.