The effects of seasonal distribution of precipitation on forage yield are often confounded by stand age. Forage yields of Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys junceus), green needlegrass (Stipa viridula), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), and intermediate-pubescent wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium-trichophorum) were determined from 6 separate studies, each of 6 years duration, from 4 locations in the northern Great Plains. Stepwise multiple regression showed that forage yield of all 4 species was significantly (P<0.01) related with April and May precipitation and stand age. Forage yield of Russian wildrye was significantly (P<0.05) related with April mean monthly temperature and degree days (accumulation of daily mean air temperature above a given threshold temperature) accumulated until the end of May or June; however, yields of the other 3 species were not significantly related with April, May, or June mean monthly temperatures nor degree days accumulated until the end of May or June. The highest forage yield per centimeter of precipitation occurred either the second or third year after establishment; then yield decreased asymptotically and by year 5 or 6 was only 75% of maximum for green needlegrass and 40-50% for the other grasses. Economic evaluation of seeding forages must include the influence of stand age on forage yield. 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.