Agropyron smithii populations exposed to 3 controlled SO2 concentrations were defoliated either once or twice during the growing season at a light and a heavy intensity. The intensity and frequency of defoliation were most influential in determining growth and tillering responses. Defoliating twice, at either intensity, had a large negative impact on plant growth whereas compensatory growth occurred after defoliating once at either intensity. Sulfur dioxide alone had no significant effect on biomass or the number of tillers, even though sulfur accumulated approximately in proportion to exposure concentration. Sulfur dioxide exposure with the additional influence of defoliation affected both the regrowth of A. smithii in terms of biomass and tiller numbers and forage sulfur concentration. Decreased plant growth in response to SO2 plus defoliation was dependent on defoliation frequency, whereas the effect of SO2 plus defoliation on plant sulfur concentration was positive and negative and depended on a complex interaction of SO2 concentration and defoliation frequency and intensity. The results are discussed in relation to the short- and long-term compensatory growth potential of a system simultaneously exposed to grazing and air pollution and the potential effect on consumers. 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
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.