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Cutting frequency and cutting height effects on rough fescue and parry oat grass yields
Author
Willms, W. D.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1991-01-01
Body

A study was made in the Rough Fescue Grasslands of southwestern Alberta to determine the yield response of rough fescue (Festuca scabrella var campestris Rydb.) and Parry oat grass (Danthonia parryi Scribn.) to 5 cutting frequencies and 3 heights over a 1-year period. The same plants were cut either 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 times over a 16-week period beginning in mid-May, at 16-, 8-, 4-, 2-, or 1-week intervals, respectively, and at heights of either 5, 10, or 15 cm above ground level. Yield response to cutting treatments differed significantly from the flrst to the third treatment year. In the first year, rough fescue and Parry oat grass produced most forage when cut at a height of 5 cm with 1, 2, or 4 cuts. By the third year, rough fescue produced the greatest yields with a single cut after 16 weeks and Parry oat grass produced the greatest yields when cut at 10 or 15 cm at 1-week intervals. The data confirm the high sensitivity of rough fescue to grazing while the plant is growing and suggest that the greatest benefit from the Rough Fescue Grasslands may be derived by grazing in fall or winter. Summer grazing favors Parry oatgrass, which is more tolerant than rough fescue, but forage production on the grassland is reduced. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4002645
Additional Information
Willms, W. D. (1991). Cutting frequency and cutting height effects on rough fescue and Parry oat grass yields. Journal of Range Management, 44(1), 82-86.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644843
Journal Volume
44
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
82-86
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
festuca scabrella var. campestris
Festuca altaica
clipping
danthonia parryi
Danthonia
Alberta
cutting frequency
regrowth
growth rate
crop yield
defoliation
grazing
simulation
forage
plant height