Presenter Information

P D. Kemp, Massey University

Publication Date

1993

Description

Morphological and ontogenetic responses of temperate pasture species 10 P deficiency with the potential 10 affect the plant's persistence and productivity were examined. Plants were grown in pols in glasshouses. Two grass species, Lolium multiflorum and Phlalaris aquatica, were compared and 2 cullivars of Trifolium repens, Grasslands Huia and Grasslands Tahora, were compared under P-deficient and P-sufficient conditions. ShooVrool ratio and the number of tillers per plant were unaffected by P deficiency in P. aquatica but decreased in L. multiflorum. Reproductive development ceased at the double ridge stage in P-deficienl P. aq11alica. Huia was more sensitive than Tahora to P deficiency in terms of biomass allocation to stolons and branching of stolons. It is suggested 1ha1 the observed morphological and onlogenelic responses 10 P deficiency of pasture species will affect their persistence and response to defoliation as well as their productivity.

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Phosphorus Deficiency Affects the Growth and Development of Temperate Pasture Species

Morphological and ontogenetic responses of temperate pasture species 10 P deficiency with the potential 10 affect the plant's persistence and productivity were examined. Plants were grown in pols in glasshouses. Two grass species, Lolium multiflorum and Phlalaris aquatica, were compared and 2 cullivars of Trifolium repens, Grasslands Huia and Grasslands Tahora, were compared under P-deficient and P-sufficient conditions. ShooVrool ratio and the number of tillers per plant were unaffected by P deficiency in P. aquatica but decreased in L. multiflorum. Reproductive development ceased at the double ridge stage in P-deficienl P. aq11alica. Huia was more sensitive than Tahora to P deficiency in terms of biomass allocation to stolons and branching of stolons. It is suggested 1ha1 the observed morphological and onlogenelic responses 10 P deficiency of pasture species will affect their persistence and response to defoliation as well as their productivity.