Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
The key to defoliation management for optimal production and persistence of pasture lies in the use of a physiological basis for defoliation interval (specific to plant type), as opposed to a regime based on time or the height of herbage. The full expansion of a particular number of leaves/tiller is a useful plant-related indicator of optimal defoliation timing. Leaf regrowth stage ('leaf stage') reflects the stage of plant recovery from defoliation as regards plant energy levels (Fulkerson & Donaghy, 2001). The level of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves in grass tiller bases influences the rate of regrowth after defoliation, affecting the rate of shoot growth, root growth and tillering. This study was aimed to determine the influence of leaf stage based defoliation interval on regrowth of leaves and root, and on tiller number of 'Kara' cocksfoot plants up to 24 days after defoliation.
Citation
Turner, L. R.; Donaghy, D. J.; and Lane, P. A., "Effect of Defoliation Interval on Regrowth of Leaves and Roots, and Tiller Number of Cocksfoot Plants" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 145.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeA/145
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Defoliation Interval on Regrowth of Leaves and Roots, and Tiller Number of Cocksfoot Plants
The key to defoliation management for optimal production and persistence of pasture lies in the use of a physiological basis for defoliation interval (specific to plant type), as opposed to a regime based on time or the height of herbage. The full expansion of a particular number of leaves/tiller is a useful plant-related indicator of optimal defoliation timing. Leaf regrowth stage ('leaf stage') reflects the stage of plant recovery from defoliation as regards plant energy levels (Fulkerson & Donaghy, 2001). The level of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves in grass tiller bases influences the rate of regrowth after defoliation, affecting the rate of shoot growth, root growth and tillering. This study was aimed to determine the influence of leaf stage based defoliation interval on regrowth of leaves and root, and on tiller number of 'Kara' cocksfoot plants up to 24 days after defoliation.
