Defoliation of Thurber needlegrass: Herbage and root responses
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Authors: D. Ganskopp
Date: 1988
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 41
Number: 6
Pages: 472-476
Summary of Methods: Ganskopp conducted a study on the Squaw Butte Experimental Range to determine the response of containerized Thurber needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana) to single defoliations (2.5-cm stubble) throughout the growing season. Thurber needlegrass was most effected by defoliation during the early-boot stage of development with reductions of 63% and 45% in shoot and root biomass, respectively, the first year, and 38%, 34% in the second year. Overall regrowth potential declined as the season progressed and soil water content was gradually depleted. Thus, regrowth exceeded pretreatment production only when plants were clipped at the vegetative stage (first defoliation treatment). Herbage production of control plants and phenological development were similar between years, but there were differences in the "growth curve" and response to treatments (for example spring growth was not effected after the first year treatments, but was lower after the second), which may be the result of an interaction with temperature and precipitation differences between the two years of the 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: thurber needlegrass, stipa thurberiana, clipping, grazing tolerance, herbage production, roots
Annotation: Treatments consist of a single defoliation event to 2.5 cm stubble height at one of seven dates throughout the growing season for two years. Plants were grown in individual containers and there was no competition during regrowth after defoliation. There was no concerted effort to separate live and dead roots, which consequently were mixed in the sample and counted as live.
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