Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) plants were exposed to three moisture levels and two levels of simulated grazing to determine the combined effects of water and grazing stress on these two plants. Russian wildrye produced more herbage than intermediate wheatgrass under severe defoliation level. Increased defoliation intensity, but not water availability, decreased tiller numbers. Pooled across all treatments, Russian wildrye produced 10 tillers per plant and intermediate wheatgrass produced 7. This may partially explain Russian wildrye's greater grazing tolerance. In this experiment, defoliation had a greater effect than water stress. Russian wildrye and intermediate wheatgrass are susceptible to grazing damage, in the presence or absence of water stress, and therefore, careful grazing management should be implemented on pastures containing these species at all times.
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