Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
An experiment was desined to study regrowth characteristics of aeshynomene (Aeschynomene americana) and hemarthria (Hemarthria altissima) swards after defoliation. Leaf area index (LAI), light interception, and canopy carbon exchange rate (CER) were measured over an eight week period of regrowth in aeschynomene and hemarthria swards cut to 9 or 18 cm. Virtually all leaves were removed by cutting aeschynomene to either height. Regrowth and recovery of photosynthetic activity commenced rapidly in the 18 cm treatment because of leaf and branch growth from remaining axillart buds. Cutting at 9 cm resulted in delayed regrowth and photosynthetic recovery. Initial canopy CER and subsequent recovery of hemarthria were less affected by cutting height than was aeschynomene. After defoliation, hemarthria had greater residual LAI, light interception, and canopy CER than aeschynomene, suggesting that it would have a competitive edge in a mixture under conditions of intermitent defoliation.
Citation
Albrecht, K A. and Boote, K J., "Photosynthetic Recovery and Regrowth of Aeschynomene Americana and Hemarthria altissima Swards after Defoliation" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 32.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses3/32)
Included in
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Photosynthetic Recovery and Regrowth of Aeschynomene Americana and Hemarthria altissima Swards after Defoliation
Kyoto Japan
An experiment was desined to study regrowth characteristics of aeshynomene (Aeschynomene americana) and hemarthria (Hemarthria altissima) swards after defoliation. Leaf area index (LAI), light interception, and canopy carbon exchange rate (CER) were measured over an eight week period of regrowth in aeschynomene and hemarthria swards cut to 9 or 18 cm. Virtually all leaves were removed by cutting aeschynomene to either height. Regrowth and recovery of photosynthetic activity commenced rapidly in the 18 cm treatment because of leaf and branch growth from remaining axillart buds. Cutting at 9 cm resulted in delayed regrowth and photosynthetic recovery. Initial canopy CER and subsequent recovery of hemarthria were less affected by cutting height than was aeschynomene. After defoliation, hemarthria had greater residual LAI, light interception, and canopy CER than aeschynomene, suggesting that it would have a competitive edge in a mixture under conditions of intermitent defoliation.
