The effects of frequency and extent of defoliation, summer irrigation, and fertilizer on the production and survival of the grass Danthonia caespitosa Gaud

Abstract

The effects of extent and frequency of defoliation on the growth and survival of Danthonia caespitosa were measured in a series of field experiments. Additional treatments, of summer irrigation and application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, were included in some of the experiments to assess how they modified the effects of defoliation.

During the summer, complete defoliation increased the shoot yield of plants which had not been irrigated, but yield was decreased in the irrigated treatments. Frequent, partial defoliation increased yields of irrigated plants but decreased yields of plants not irrigated. Depression of yields was caused by both tiller death and reduced regrowth of individual tillers.

In an experiment lasting 2 years, plants were completely defoliated monthly, bimonthly or tri-monthly or left intact, and shoot yields, tillering characteristics and plant survival under the treatments were compared. Monthly defoliation depressed yields and rate of tillering and accelerated the death rate of plants, particularly during the summer and autumn periods. Plants also died when cut bimonthly but the rate was slower. Plants irrigated during the first summer generally died at a faster rate than plants not irrigated. Tillering was more rapid during the autumn and early winter months. Midwinter application of fertilizer to plants cut bimonthly greatly stimulated shoot yields and seed production in the spring but not in the following year.

Examination of tiller apices showed that floral induction took place prior to the beginning of July. Many apices were elevated above the 'grazing level' by early September, and flowering and seed set occurred in October.