Defoliation Impact on the Above and Belowground Productivity of Festuca arundinaceae Schreb

The main objective of pasture management is to maximize plant productivity and ensure sustainable animal performance, without inducing pasture deterioration. Many researchers indicated that plant survival and sustainable production is a function of seedbed preparation, irrigation and defoliation, with defoliation having the largest impact on plant persistence (Fulkerson and Donaghy, 2001). The net effect of defoliation (degree of intensity and frequency) can therefore either be beneficial or detrimental to survival and productivity of a pasture. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of different intensities and frequencies of defoliation on above- and belowground phytomass production of the cultivated pasture Festuca arundinaceae Schreb. under irrigation.