Defoliation effects on herbage production and root growth of wet meadow forage species
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Authors: J. D. Volesky, W. H. Schacht, A. E. Koehler, E. Blankenship, and P. E. Reece
Date: 2011
Journal: Rangeland Ecology & Management
Volume: 64
Number: 5
Pages: 506-531
Summary of Methods: The effects of defoliation intensity and frequency on aboveground production and root production of three species (slender wheatgrass, Nebraska sedge and 'Steadfast' birdsfoot trefoil) were examined in highly controlled field study at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (42° 04' N; 101° 26' W) 11 km north of Whitman, Nebraska. Forty-eight 48 containers of each species were transplanted in containers one meter apart in a 6 X 8 grid. One of six defoliation treatments (control, 2 clippings/low-intensity, 2 clippings/high-intensity, 5 clippings/low-intensity, 5 clippings/high-intensity and haying) was applied to each container. Total above ground production was collected and plant material was hand washed for root analysis.
Article Summary / Main Points: Two defoliation events during the growing season did not appear to negatively affect root growth and herbage production for all three species. Total aboveground production of all three species was shown not to be affected by defoliation intensity. Total aboveground production was greater regardless of defoliation treatment for slender wheatgrass and birdsfoot trefoil when compared to the control. Defoliation had no affect on total root weight, length and surface area of Nebraska sedge and birdsfoot trefoil. More frequent defoliations reduced total root weight, length and surface area for slender wheatgrass. End-of-season tiller density of Nebraska sedge and slender wheatgrass were not affected by the defoliation treatments.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 106 Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangeland Defoliation
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: birdsfoot trefoil, defoliation frequency, defoliation intensity, herbage production, nebraska sedge, root distribution, root length, root surface area root weight, slender wheatgrass, wet meadow
Annotation: Volesky et al. provides an interesting study of defoliation effects (haying or grazing) on root characteristics and aboveground biomass production in a wet meadow ecosystem. Application of these results should be done so with caution as this highly controlled study excluded actual animal grazing and machinery impacts on soil and vegetation properties, possibly producing skewed or inconclusive results. A larger field study would be beneficial.
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