Growth and Development of Northern Great Plains Species in Relation to Nitrogen Fertilization

Abstract

Four range sites were fertilized at three different rates of nitrogen. Grass and sedge species react differently to the nitrogen treatments with respect to leaf height growth and phenological development. Leaf height increases in the grasses are generally small at lower levels of nitrogen. The sagebrush (Artemisia) species increase markedly in height at all rates of nitrogen fertilization. Stalk heights in the grasses and forbs generally follow patterns of height increase similar to those of the leaves. Phenological development of plant species is variously affected by the different rates of nitrogen on different range sites. Leaf-tip drying of grasses is greater on a given date on plots with no nitrogen early in the season than on plots with nitrogen fertlizer. A reversal of this situation occurs later in the season.