Publication Date
1993
Description
Stands of subtropical grasses develop slowly in mid-continent North America and this may be due partly to initial plant density. Panicum virgatum L. and Andropogon gerardii Vitman seedlings were transplanted from a greenhouse into field plots as pure stands in equidistant spacings at initial plant densities of 2.5, S, 10, 20, 40 and 80 plants/m1. P. virgatum produced higher yields, fewer tillers/plant and leaves/tiller, less basal density and shorter plants than A. gerardii during the first year of growth. Light interception was higher and soil temperatures lower for A. gerardii. Basal density and height increased while tillers/plant decreased linearly as initial plant density increased. Yield and light interception increased and soil temperatures decreased quadratically as initial plant density increased. Lower initial plant densities resulted in higher yield and soil surface area occupied/ plant.
Citation
Anderson, Bruce and Moser, L E., "First-Year Stand Development of Subtropical Grass Seedlings and Influence by Initial Plant Density" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 16.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session52/16
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
First-Year Stand Development of Subtropical Grass Seedlings and Influence by Initial Plant Density
Stands of subtropical grasses develop slowly in mid-continent North America and this may be due partly to initial plant density. Panicum virgatum L. and Andropogon gerardii Vitman seedlings were transplanted from a greenhouse into field plots as pure stands in equidistant spacings at initial plant densities of 2.5, S, 10, 20, 40 and 80 plants/m1. P. virgatum produced higher yields, fewer tillers/plant and leaves/tiller, less basal density and shorter plants than A. gerardii during the first year of growth. Light interception was higher and soil temperatures lower for A. gerardii. Basal density and height increased while tillers/plant decreased linearly as initial plant density increased. Yield and light interception increased and soil temperatures decreased quadratically as initial plant density increased. Lower initial plant densities resulted in higher yield and soil surface area occupied/ plant.