Recovery Rate of Depleted Range Sites under Protection from Grazing

Abstract

It is estimated to take from 20 to 40 years for overgrazed ranges in the rough fescue and ponderosa pine zones to recover to excellent range condition when fully rested. Little change in plant composition took place inside exclosures, placed on poor condition range, in less than 10 years following fencing. It took longer for the sites to progress from poor to fair condition than from fair to good condition. The main plants to increase with protection were bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescue. The main species to decrease were Sandberg bluegrass, low pussytoes, and rabbitbrush.