Intermediate wheatgrass and Russian wildrye responses to defoliation and moisture
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Authors: J. R. Hendrickson, and J. D. Berdahl
Date: 2002
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 55
Number: 1
Pages: 99-103
Summary of Methods: Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) plants were exposed to three moisture levels and two levels of simulated grazing to determine the combined effects of water and grazing stress on these two plants. Russian wildrye produced more herbage than intermediate wheatgrass under severe defoliation level. Increased defoliation intensity, but not water availability, decreased tiller numbers. Pooled across all treatments, Russian wildrye produced 10 tillers per plant and intermediate wheatgrass produced 7. This may partially explain Russian wildrye's greater grazing tolerance. In this experiment, defoliation had a greater effect than water stress. Russian wildrye and intermediate wheatgrass are susceptible to grazing damage, in the presence or absence of water stress, and therefore, careful grazing management should be implemented on pastures containing these species at all times.
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: russian wildrye, psathyrostachys juncea, intermediate wheatgrass, thinopyrum intermedium, biomass, tiller recruitment, axillary buds, soil moisture
Annotation: Plants were grown in a greenhouse during the study. Defoliation treatments were: no defoliation (control), moderate - clipped to 8-cm stubble height, and severe - clipped to 4-cm stubble height. Plants were clipped six times, once every 10 days beginning in mid-late March.
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