Sheep grazing effects on subterranean clover development and seed production in western Oregon
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Authors: J. J. Steiner, and D. F. Grabe
Date: 1986
Journal: Crop Science
Volume: 26
Number:
Pages: 367-372
Summary of Methods: In this study, seed production was determined for subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) plants exposed to no grazing, early season, late season, or extended (early and late season combined) season grazing. Sheep (Ovis aries) grazing increased seed production when grazing occurred just before and during the initial stages of bur filling, which corresponded to the early and extended grazing treatments in the first year of the study and the extended grazing treatment in the second year of the study. The increase in seed production was most likely caused by the reduction in canopy height caused by grazing that allowed more light to be absorbed by the reproductive structures. The authors of the study suggest that managers attempting to maximize seed production in subterranean clover pastures should initiate sheep grazing programs during the appropriate phenological stage determined in this study.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: subterranean clover, trifolium subterraneum, components of yield, grazing management, leaf area index, moisture stress, photosynthetically active radiation, targeted grazing
Annotation: Season of use started when plants initiated lateral growth from rosettes and ended when seed burs were becoming filled on plants. In 1979, all grazing took place between May 3 -16 and in 1980 all grazing took place between March 8 and April 19. In the 6-ha grazing area the stocking rates were 5 and 7.5 ewes/ha in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Pastures were stocked at 5 ewes per ha in 1979 and 7.5 ewes per ha in 1980.
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