Publication Date
1989
Description
The three fundamental environmental factors which influence plant growth are water, temperature, and light. Light may be separated into photoperiod - and irradiance - related factors. Grasses adapt to reduced irradiance regimes by increasing leaf area and stem length and by decreasing leaf thickness and plant dry weight. Leaf thickness in grasses is altered by changes in cell size (Cooper and Tainton, 1968). These morphological and anatomical adjustments to irradiance regime may affect cell-wall concentration and forage quality. Adaptation to reduced irradiance has resulted in lower soluble carbohydrate concentration and increased total-nitrogen concentration (Deinum and Dirven, 1972; Wong and Wilson, 1980). Field-based comparisons of C3 and C4 grass morphological adaptation to irradiance have not been conducted. Likewise, irradiance adaptation effects on the forage quality of these grasses have not been adequately investigated. The objectives of this research were to compare morphological adaptation to irradiance for C3 and C4 grasses and to determine adaptive effects on forage quality.
Citation
Kephart, K D. and Buxton, D R., "Adaptation and Forage Quality of Grasses Grown Under Shade" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 32.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session7/32
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Adaptation and Forage Quality of Grasses Grown Under Shade
The three fundamental environmental factors which influence plant growth are water, temperature, and light. Light may be separated into photoperiod - and irradiance - related factors. Grasses adapt to reduced irradiance regimes by increasing leaf area and stem length and by decreasing leaf thickness and plant dry weight. Leaf thickness in grasses is altered by changes in cell size (Cooper and Tainton, 1968). These morphological and anatomical adjustments to irradiance regime may affect cell-wall concentration and forage quality. Adaptation to reduced irradiance has resulted in lower soluble carbohydrate concentration and increased total-nitrogen concentration (Deinum and Dirven, 1972; Wong and Wilson, 1980). Field-based comparisons of C3 and C4 grass morphological adaptation to irradiance have not been conducted. Likewise, irradiance adaptation effects on the forage quality of these grasses have not been adequately investigated. The objectives of this research were to compare morphological adaptation to irradiance for C3 and C4 grasses and to determine adaptive effects on forage quality.
