Effect of Clipping on Survival of Crested Wheatgrass Seedlings

Abstract

Seedlings of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.) from spring plantings were clipped to a 1.3-cm stubble or to ground level in the year of seeding in 6 years between 1954 and 1970. Two to nine clipping dates per year, between May and August, were used. Seedling survival was measured in the fall of the year of seeding. Clipping to 1.3 cm reduced survival by 0 to 13%, but the reductions were considered to be of no practical consequence. Clipping to ground level reduced survival by 0 to 61%, and the reduction varied greatly between years, dates of clipping, and dates of clipping within years. There was no consistent relationship between date of clipping and survival. It was not possible to predict seedling mortality from date of clipping, or from number of tillers or height of seedlings at time of clipping. In 1970, when height measurements were made, plant height in September decreased for later dates of planting, and height of regrowth after clipping decreased with later dates of planting and later dates of clipping.