Response of Needle-and-thread and Western Wheatgrass to Defoliation by Grasshoppers
Burleson WH and Hewitt GB. 1982. Response of Needle-and-thread and Western Wheatgrass to Defoliation by Grasshoppers. Journal of Range Management. 35(2):223-226
Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to measure changes in plant growth resulting from grasshopper defoliation. All data indicated that as grasshopper grazing intensity on needle-and-thread grass increased, total root weight decreased. A greenhouse study with western wheatgrass showed that heavy grazing for a 16-day period reduced top growth 82%, root growth 85%, crown growth 81% rhizome growth 100%, and depth of root penetration 49%. Field observation indicated that most grasshopper defoliation of needle-and-thread grass and western wheatgrass occurs after seasonal growth has been completed.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Burleson, Wayne; Hewitt, George
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Defoliation, grasshoppers