Publication Date

1993

Description

The lack of persistence in sown posture under perennial plantation crops is poorly understood. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of defoliation severity on the growth and survival of an erect and a prostrate-type shade-tolerant grasses when grown at light levels of 100, 50 and 20% of full sunlight. I was hypothesised that a prostrate grass would be able to persist better under frequent defoliation than an erect grass at low light levels, The prostrate Paspaalum wettsteinii and the erect Paspalum malacophyhllum produced a similar total biomass. However, P. wettsteinii had a higher root yield, while P. mafacophylhum had a larger shoot component. Under low light and frequent cutting, the survival of P. wettsteinii was significantly lower than that of P. malacophyllum. The poor persisrem:e of P. wettsleinii was relation a lower total non-structural carbohydrate content of stubble, and lower tillering ability and regrowth potential. It was concluded that, at least for P. wettsteinii, the prostrate growth habit did not increase persistence in shade.

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Persistence of an Erect and a Prostrate Paspalum species as Affected by Shade and Defoliation

The lack of persistence in sown posture under perennial plantation crops is poorly understood. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of defoliation severity on the growth and survival of an erect and a prostrate-type shade-tolerant grasses when grown at light levels of 100, 50 and 20% of full sunlight. I was hypothesised that a prostrate grass would be able to persist better under frequent defoliation than an erect grass at low light levels, The prostrate Paspaalum wettsteinii and the erect Paspalum malacophyhllum produced a similar total biomass. However, P. wettsteinii had a higher root yield, while P. mafacophylhum had a larger shoot component. Under low light and frequent cutting, the survival of P. wettsteinii was significantly lower than that of P. malacophyllum. The poor persisrem:e of P. wettsleinii was relation a lower total non-structural carbohydrate content of stubble, and lower tillering ability and regrowth potential. It was concluded that, at least for P. wettsteinii, the prostrate growth habit did not increase persistence in shade.