Western Wheatgrass Responses to Simulated Grazing

Abstract

To evaluate responses of range grasses to herbage removal, removal patterns should simulate those under grazing. We compared responses of western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.) in mixed-grass range to no clipping, conventional clipping, and clipping which simulated continuous grazing. Two years of simulated grazing did not affect herbage production or tiller numbers, but both declined under conventional clipping. Belowground phytomass decreased as herbage removal increased. Total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration in rhizomes decreased when utilization exceeded about 40%, but that of roots and crowns decreased only when utilization exceeded 60-70%.