Start Date
10-13-2011 9:15 AM
Description
Whenever we discuss grazing management we emphasize how proper grazing will produce the maximum amount of plant growth. Giving forage plants an adequate rest period after each grazing event is essential to allow growth and storage of carbohydrates for the next growth cycle. With grasses, leaving leaf area after grazing allows the plant to maintain photosynthesis and regrow faster. On a more basic level though, all plants regulate growth with hormones. These hormones are termed “plant growth regulators.” Auxin controls cell division and the direction of plant growth. Gibberellic acid (abbrev. GA) has three main functions in plants: 1) stimulate rapid stem and root growth, 2) induce mitotic division in the leaves of some plants, and 3) increase seed germination rate. Since the 1950’s researchers have been exploring how to use plant growth regulators commercially. In other words, can spraying additional amounts of natural hormones onto plants stimulate more growth resulting in higher yields or onto seeds to improve germination and initial root growth.
Included in
RyzUp Smartgrass: Growth Promotion for Forages
Whenever we discuss grazing management we emphasize how proper grazing will produce the maximum amount of plant growth. Giving forage plants an adequate rest period after each grazing event is essential to allow growth and storage of carbohydrates for the next growth cycle. With grasses, leaving leaf area after grazing allows the plant to maintain photosynthesis and regrow faster. On a more basic level though, all plants regulate growth with hormones. These hormones are termed “plant growth regulators.” Auxin controls cell division and the direction of plant growth. Gibberellic acid (abbrev. GA) has three main functions in plants: 1) stimulate rapid stem and root growth, 2) induce mitotic division in the leaves of some plants, and 3) increase seed germination rate. Since the 1950’s researchers have been exploring how to use plant growth regulators commercially. In other words, can spraying additional amounts of natural hormones onto plants stimulate more growth resulting in higher yields or onto seeds to improve germination and initial root growth.