Presenter Information

P G. Tow, University of Adelaide

Publication Date

1993

Description

An experiment under controlled conditions, using the de Wit competition model, has provided an explanation of competitive relationships in mixtures of Panicum maximum var. trichoglume (green panic) cv. Petrie and Neontonia wightii cv. Tinaroo glycine. Experiments in a tropical upland environment with summer rainfall dominance (to which they ore adapted) have provided further understanding of their relationships. Over a period of 2 years for well-wafered plants in containers and 4 years in a rain-fed field experiment, competitive gains by one species alternated with-gains by the other, and neither species gained significantly overall. Gains by the grass were favoured by increased nitrogen by transfer from the legume, either during the growing season or from mineralisation of organic matter at the start of the summer wet season. Glycine recovery occurred after these events but was probably especially favoured by lower temperatures in winter and increased intervals between defoliations.

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Attainment and Distribution of Competitive Equilibrium in Tropical Grass-Legume Mixtures

An experiment under controlled conditions, using the de Wit competition model, has provided an explanation of competitive relationships in mixtures of Panicum maximum var. trichoglume (green panic) cv. Petrie and Neontonia wightii cv. Tinaroo glycine. Experiments in a tropical upland environment with summer rainfall dominance (to which they ore adapted) have provided further understanding of their relationships. Over a period of 2 years for well-wafered plants in containers and 4 years in a rain-fed field experiment, competitive gains by one species alternated with-gains by the other, and neither species gained significantly overall. Gains by the grass were favoured by increased nitrogen by transfer from the legume, either during the growing season or from mineralisation of organic matter at the start of the summer wet season. Glycine recovery occurred after these events but was probably especially favoured by lower temperatures in winter and increased intervals between defoliations.