Above-Ground Net Primary Production for Elymus lanceolatus and Hesperostipa curtiseta After a Single Defoliation Event

Abstract

Above-ground net primary production (ANPP) of northern wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus [Scribn. & J. G. Sm.] Gould) and western porcupine grass (Hesperostipa curtiseta [Hitchc.] Barkworth) was determined after defoliation to a 7.5 cm stubble height on five landform elements in the Northern Mixed Prairie that had been ungrazed for. 25 yr. Landform elements included north aspect-concave slopes, north aspect-convex slopes, south aspect-concave slopes, south aspect-convex slopes, and level uplands. ANPP was determined for 2 yr after defoliating plots

Above-ground net primary production of plains rough fescue [Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper] after a single defoliation on five landform elements

“…Competition with neighboring plants may also have factored into reduced ANPP of plains rough fescue in the first year after defoliation (Mueggler 1975;Archer and Detling 1984). Forbs (Pantel et al 2010), northern wheatgrass, and western porcupine grass (Pantel et al 2011) all recovered their ANPP faster than plains rough fescue, which in turn may confer a competitive advantage and more effective exploitation of resources aboveand below-ground. The possibility that the competitive ability of plains rough fescue diminishes after defoliation is probable.…”