Northern wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum, syn. Elymus lanceolatus) plants were mowed at various times during the grazing season and the amount of time required to recover to pre-defoliation biomass levels was measured, in an effort to provide grazing managers with the best management plan for northern wheatgrass dominated pastures. The number of degree-days required for recovery averaged about two growing seasons and was inversely related to the number of days that grazing was delayed after May 1st. In general, plots mowed early in the season took longer to recover than plots mowed later in the season. Low levels of precipitation exaggerated the effects of mowing and further slowed recovery, suggesting that grazing management would need to be adapted to yearly precipitation fluctuations. Based on the results of this study, northern wheatgrass dominated pastures should be grazed in one short grazing period, deferred as late into the season as possible, and then the pasture should be rested for two full grazing seasons to allow for full vegetation recovery.
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