Mild temperate steppe

index | cold steppe | mild steppe | tropical savanna

Mild steppes are low-production, brittle environments. This steppe in southern New Mexico, U.S.A. averages 12" (300 mm) precipitation yearly.

Jim Howell Stock density: 400 dry cows on 250 acres (100 ha) for 3 days. As with cold steppe, use long recovery periods followed by short grazing periods at high stock densities to produce even forage utilization and well-distributed animal impact.	Jim Howell Growing season: Erratic and spread-out precipitation limits productivity. Mild temperatures create faster evaporation than on the cold steppe, further limiting usable moisture.
Jim Howell Dormant season: Though biological productivity is low and recovery periods must be long, grazers must eventually return or standing dead growth will shade the plants' growth points.	Jim Howell Mild temperate steppe: soil surface in dormant season. As with the cold steppe, providing enough litter to protect the soil surface can be a challenge.

index | cold steppe | mild steppe | tropical savanna