Spring defoliation effects on bluebunch wheatgrass: l. winter forage quality
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Authors: P. E. Clark, W. C. Krueger, L. D. Bryant, and D. R. Thomas
Date: 1998
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 51
Number: 5
Pages: 519-525
Summary of Methods: Clark et al. used four clipping treatments to simulate livestock grazing to assess the effects each clipping level has on bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and dry matter (DM) yield on elk (Cervus elaphus) winter range in northeastern Oregon. The mid-boot/whole plant, mid-boot/half plant, and inflorescence emergence clipping treatments were considerably higher in CP than the unclipped control. IVDMD was highest for mid-boot/whole plant and inflorescence emergence treatments. DM yield was highest for the unclipped control. To avoid significant impact on plant resource viability, livestock grazing should be applied during the boot stage of a plant's phenological development to improve bluebunch wheatgrass winter quality. If regrowth is produced, defoliation after the boot stage can enhance winter forage quality of bluebunch wheatgrass. To achieve this without hindering its competitive condition, a livestock grazing system should be used that only allows for a single defoliation of plants during the boot stage, minimizes regrazing of individual plants in the growing season, and rests grazed plants until vigor is regained.
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: agropyron spicatum, cervus elaphus, elk, winter range, forage conditioning, phenology
Annotation: Within each of two study sites, a 0.8 ha livestock exclosure was divided into 10 meter by 10 meter plots resulting in 44 subplots at the McCarthy Spring exclosure and 39 subplots at the Winter Ridge exclosure, of which 32 plots were randomly chosen for a clipping treatment and year of treatment application. The four treatments used were an unclipped control, clipping the whole basal area to 7.6 cm stubble height during mid-boot phenological stage, clipping half of the basal area to 7.6 cm stubble height during mid-boot stage, and clipping the entire basal area to 7.6 cm stubble height during the inflorescence emergence stage.
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