Effects of Clipping on Dry Matter Yields of Basin Wildrye

Abstract

Total seasonal dry matter yields of individual spaced basin wildrye plants clipped to three heights and reclipped at three time frequencies declined drastically each successive year from 1970 through 1973. Dry matter yields of plants clipped to 15 cm or at 3-week time frequencies declined the greatest with each successive year of clipping. Time of clipping during the growing season had less influence on total seasonal dry matter yields than did clipping height and frequency. This suggests that grazing basin wildrye during the growing season may be possible on a limited basis only.