Contents 



Page 



INTRODUCTION 1 



METHODS 3 



RESULTS 5 



DISCUSSION 9 



Abstract 



Partly reducing competition increased by 40 percent the 

 lierbage volume produced by Idaho fescue (Festuca idaho- 

 ensis Elmer) the following year and more than tripled the 

 number of flower stalks. Eliminating competition almost tri- 

 pled herbage volume and increased the number of flower 

 stalks fourfold. The relative depressant effects of chpping 

 were much reduced by concurrent reductions in competition. 

 Partly reducing competition more than compensated for the 

 effects of heavy clipping on herbage volume and flower stalk 

 production, and eliminating competition more than offset 

 the effects of extreme clipping. Volume increases caused by 

 reducing competition resulted from increases in live basal 

 area rather than stimulation of height growth. The number of 

 flower stalks appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of 

 plant vigor than either herbage volume or leaf and flower 

 stalk lengths. 



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