WhAT dETERiviiNEs A pLxMi's Abiliiy 



TO RECOVER FrOIVI qRAZJNq? 



A plant's rate of recovery from grazing 

 depends on the plant's condition and its 

 immediate environment. 



Consider the Plant's Condition: 



• the amount of leaf area available for 

 photosynthesis after grazing has 

 occurred 



• the susceptibility of growing points to 

 damage or removal 



• the ability of the plant to produce new 

 tillers 



• the ability of the plant to maintain a 

 favorable shoot-to-root balance 



Consider Environmental Conditions: 



• soil moisture 



• soil and air temperatures 



• fertility 



• competition 



Recovery can occur only when these 

 conditions are favorable for plant growth. 

 Wildlife, insects, hail, or wildfire may also 

 place demands on forage plants. Provide an 

 adequate recovery period following these 

 types of harvests to sustain a healthy plant 

 community. 



Growing Points 

 Level 



Regrowth 



Growing Points 

 Level 



Regrowth 



Growing Points 

 Removed 



Elongated Tillers 



Credit; Roy Garrett "Vnderstandin]^ Gross Grou'fA" 



Kcit nAf-jU^yyt-^^^ P'^/ictice^ (KHP't) IjCi Q'xA^ih^ 



