
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Leigh, JH 
A1  - Mulham, WE 
T1  - The effect of defoliation on the persistence of <I>Atriplex vesicaria</I>
JF  - Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
JO  - Aust. J.  Agric. Res.
Y1  - 1971
VL  - 22
IS  - 2
SP  - 239
EP  - 244
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9710239 
N2  - To determine the response of the perennial shrub Atriplex vesicaria Hew. ex Benth. (bladder saltbush) to grazing, bushes were grazed by Merino sheep to two levels of defoliation, severe and complete. Ungrazed bushes were used as controls. Separate groups of plots were defoliated in October and February and two levels of soil moisture were imposed. Results showed that the more heavily the bushes were grazed the less likely they were to regenerate. Completely defoliated bushes did not regrow, irrespective of soil moisture status or season. It is hypothesized that the inability of A, vesicaria to persist after complete or severe grazing is due to the removal, by grazing, of potential growth sites which apparently occur only along the young stems. 
ER  -

