Publication Date
1997
Description
Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summers of 1991 and 1992 to determine morphological development of regrowth of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in order to evaluate the suitability of these species for grazing. All eight species were mob-grazed by sheep at a stocking rate of 30 animals ha-1. Physiological stage of leaf development was determined at 7, 14 and 21 d following defoliation. Smooth bromegrass and timothy consistently produced the greatest number of leaves at all regrowth stages. Tall fescue produced the least development of leaves at all time periods. Fifty-five percent of slender wheatgrass tillers and 19% of intermediate wheatgrass tillers were reproductive 21 d after defoliation. Based on leaf growth the grasses were ranked into three groups - meadow and smooth bromegrasses ranked highest, intermediate wheatgrass, reed canarygrass and orchardgrass ranked intermediate and timothy, tall fescue and slender wheatgrass ranked lowest.
Citation
Lardner, H A.; Wright, S.B M.; and Cohen, R H., "The Effect of Grazing on Leaf Development in Eight Grass Species" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 70.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/70
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Effect of Grazing on Leaf Development in Eight Grass Species
Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summers of 1991 and 1992 to determine morphological development of regrowth of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in order to evaluate the suitability of these species for grazing. All eight species were mob-grazed by sheep at a stocking rate of 30 animals ha-1. Physiological stage of leaf development was determined at 7, 14 and 21 d following defoliation. Smooth bromegrass and timothy consistently produced the greatest number of leaves at all regrowth stages. Tall fescue produced the least development of leaves at all time periods. Fifty-five percent of slender wheatgrass tillers and 19% of intermediate wheatgrass tillers were reproductive 21 d after defoliation. Based on leaf growth the grasses were ranked into three groups - meadow and smooth bromegrasses ranked highest, intermediate wheatgrass, reed canarygrass and orchardgrass ranked intermediate and timothy, tall fescue and slender wheatgrass ranked lowest.
