USE OF ANNUAL PLANTS IN CALIFORNIA FOOTHILLS 47 





Figure 20. — Close utilization. This uniformly close utilization of annual-plant 

 vegetation reduces the litter layer on the soil surface; conditions become distinctly 

 unfavorable to plant growth. Growth during the winter is retarded and total 

 yields in the spring are reduced, particularly on the very closely utilized bottom 

 lands. The percentage of the dominant species in the plant cover may not be 

 greatly changed, except in the swales; but minor weedy species increase on all sites. 

 This degree of grazing is too close for efficient cattle production. 



Figure 21. — Moderate utilization. This patchy use of annual-plant vegetation 

 maintains satisfactory soil conditions and a good plant mixture, without evidence 

 of deterioration in either. Winter growth of forage and total yields in the spring 

 are satisfactory although not as great as under lighter grazing. This is an efficient 

 degree of utilization that provides satisfactory cattle production without waste of 

 herbage. 



