Gittins¹ C, CA Busso², G Becker¹, L Ghermandi³, G Siffredi¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 55-68, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.055

Abstract Poa ligularis is an important forage in Patagonian rangelands. Populations of this perennial bunchgrass have been severely affected by overgrazing. We propose that increased defoliation frequencies will decrease (1) aerial- and belowground dry matter production, (2) root survival, and (3) concentration and content of total non-structural crown + root carbohydrates, and (4) increase root mortality. Five defoliation frequencies (plus 1 control) were applied in a representative grassland of the Occidental District in Patagonia during two consecutive growing seasons. All four hypotheses were rejected. Aerial and belowground dry matter production increased from one to two or three defoliations. Root production and… More >

Song Y¹, CA. Busso⁵, Y Yu², P Wang³, Wuyunna¹, D Zhou⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 242-251, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.242

Abstract The effects of different defoliation intensities and frequencies were studied on regrowth and herbage mass of Leymus chinensis and Hordeum brevisubulatum in northeast China for two years. Plants were defoliated to 6, 8 or 10 cm stubble height by removing about 40% of growth down to each designated defoliation height. In the first year, L. chinensis was defoliated 22, 17 or 13 times, and in the second year was defoliated 21, 15 or 15 times to reach 6, 8 or 10 cm stubble height treatments, respectively. H. brevisubulatum was defoliated 26, 21 or 15 times in the first year, and… More >