Spring-clipping response in Snake River and thickspike wheatgrass
-
-
Authors: T. A. Jones, and D. C. Nielson
Date: 1993
Journal: Agronomy Journal
Volume: 85
Number:
Pages: 94-97
Summary of Methods: In this Utah study, Jones and Nielson evaluate the response of Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis), thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus), and two hybrid populations, to spring-clipping at the boot stage, in two environments representing different levels of moisture stress. Spring clipping reduced Secar dry weight 21%, spike number 27% and plant basal area 17% at the North Logan location, while the other populations were unaffected. Spring clipping reduced dry weight 26 and 31%, spike number 37 and 36%, and plant basal area 24 and 33%, of Secar and D38, respectively, near Stone site, while the other populations were unaffected. Spring clipping was more harmful to the Stone aridisol site than the North Logan mollisol site. Currently available germplasm of the rhizomatous thickspike wheatgrass appears to be more tolerant of spring clipping than that of the caespitose Snake River wheatgrass.
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: grazing, snake river wheatgrass, elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis, thickspike wheatgrass, elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus, boot stage, spike number, basal area, spring clipping
Annotation: The 2 study sites were "North Logan" and "Stone". The five populations included 'Secar', Snake River wheatgrass, 'Elbee', and T-21076 thickspike wheatgrass, and 2 hybrids designated D30 and D38. In 1988 two-row subplots were assigned to each of three spring-clipping treatments. These included (1) clipping when 2/3 of the plants of the population's whole plot had at least one spike emerged from the boot, (2) clipping when the Secar whole plot had 2/3 emergence from the boot (all populations clipped on a single date), and (3) no spring clipping. Spring clipping was followed by summer harvest in both spring-clipped and unclipped subplots July 2-4 and July 12 for North Logan and Stone, respectively, in 1988, and on July 5-10 and July 17-18, respectively, in 1989. At North Logan fall harvests were taken October 13-18, 1988 and October 16-18, 1989, and final harvest was taken July 9-19, 1990 at North Logan and August 14-15 at Stone. Grazing intensity not defined.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-