Abstract The aim of this research was to establish vegetation, soil and hydrologic responses to grazing pressure; and determine thresholds for optimum herbage utilisation of pastures and grazing land resources conservation. The treatments were no grazing (NOG, control), where animal grazing was excluded using 10 m by 10 m fenced enclosure, moderate grazing (MDG) and heavy grazing (HVG). During free grazing period (January-May) stocking rate on medium and heavily grazed plots depends much on the preference of grazing animals, and in some cases the stocking rate in controlled or medium grazing pressure exceeds that of the heavily grazed plots. The biomass yield on non-grazed plots varied from 2.84-4.13 t/ha, and on grazed plots from 0.84-2.25 t/ha. Grazing pressure increased the percentage cover of annual plant species and composition as compared with no grazing pressure. Particularly, in medium-grazing pressure annual plant species coverage has improved significantly. The soil loss at 4-8% slope was high in heavily grazed plots. Besides, the soil loss in grazed plots was below the soil tolerance limit for natural pasture. The infiltration rate was lower in heavily grazed plots
