In this Utah study, Jones and Nielson evaluate the response of Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis), thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus), and two hybrid populations, to spring-clipping at the boot stage, in two environments representing different levels of moisture stress. Spring clipping reduced Secar dry weight 21%, spike number 27% and plant basal area 17% at the North Logan location, while the other populations were unaffected. Spring clipping reduced dry weight 26 and 31%, spike number 37 and 36%, and plant basal area 24 and 33%, of Secar and D38, respectively, near Stone site, while the other populations were unaffected. Spring clipping was more harmful to the Stone aridisol site than the North Logan mollisol site. Currently available germplasm of the rhizomatous thickspike wheatgrass appears to be more tolerant of spring clipping than that of the caespitose Snake River wheatgrass.
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