Clipping Height and Frequency Influence Growth Response of Nitrogen-Fertilized Blue Grama

Abstract

A greenhouse study with two clipping heights (1- and 2-inch stubble heights) and two clipping frequencies (every 10 and 20 days) showed that blue grama was able to make use of nitrogen fertilizer much more efficiently when unclipped than when clipped. Both clipping heights and clipping intervals decreased shoot and root weights on fertilized plants compared to fertilized and unclipped plants. The effect of clipping on unfertilized plants was much less drastic than on fertilized plants.