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Tiller demography and growth were determined for defoliated and nondefoliated plants ofStipa tenuisandPiptochaetium napostaenseunder natural field conditions in 1991 and 1992. Defoliated plants were clipped once a year to a stubble height of 5–7 cm at one of the following phenological stages: vegetative (V), or during early (E), late (L) or post (P) internode elongation.

Defoliation at the different phenological stages hastened tiller senescence in 1991 but not in 1992, which might be associated with lower precipitation during the first year. Rates of leaf production for both species during late autumn–early winter were greater after plants were defoliated atVand/orEthan for nondefoliated controls in 1992. In addition, tillers ofS. tenuisandP. napostaenseexhibited greater relative growth rates for height or green leaf blade, stem plus sheath and total lengths after they had been defoliated atVand/orEthan when not …