SEASONAL CHANGE OF BAHIAGRASS TILLER UNDER DIFFERENT NITROGEN FERTILIZER RATE AND CUTTING HEIGHT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20956/jitp.v2i1.701Abstract
Seasonal change of bahiagrass tiller under different nitrogen fertilizer rate and cutting height was investigated over a 4-year period. Tiller dynamics were examined using a tagging technique, with treatments of two nitrogen rates [5 g N/m2 /year (LN) and 20 g N/m2/year (HN)] x three cutting heights above ground level [20 mm (LH), 120 mm (MH) and 220 mm (HH)]. Total tiller density in the first one or two years increased in LH treatments, whereas that in MH and HH treatments decreased. Thereafter, the density reached annually constant values, showing seasonal fluctuations consisting of the spring increase and the subsequent decrease. The decrease in cutting height usually increased TAR, and the increase in nitrogen rate often increased TAR in the LH treatments. TDR increased from spring to summer and decreased thereafter. In summer and autumn, HN/LH treatment often showed higher TDR than the other treatments. The balance in LH treatments increased with increasing nitrogen rate. In the other months, the balance was usually close to zero or negative, except for LH treatments in the first year. The half-life of tillers tended to increase with decreasing nitrogen rate and cutting height. Tillers appearing in autumn survived longest, and those appearing in spring shortest. The results show that bahiagrass copes with severe management conditions by increasing its tiller longevity. This is taken as an important mechanism for the high persistence of the grass. In addition, bahiagrass tolerates severe defoliation (LH treatments) also by increasing TAR and thus tiller densityDownloads
References
Bèlanger, G. 1998. Morphogenetic characteristics of timothy grown with varying N nutrition. Can. J. Plant Sci., 78:103-108.
Bullock, J. M., B. C. Hill, and J. Silvertown. 1994. Tiller dynamics of two grasses response to grazing, density and weather. J. Ecol., 82:331 340.
Chapman, D. F., D. A. Clark, C. A. Land, and N. Dymock. 1983. Leaf and tiller growth of Lolium perenne and Agrostis spp. and leaf appearance rates of Trifolium repens in set stocked and rotationally grazed hill pastures. N. Z. J. Agric. Res., 26:159 168.
Da Silva, S. C., C. Matthew, N. P. Matthews, and J. Hodgson. 1993. Influence of spring grazing management on summer and autumn production of dairy pastures. p. 859 860. In M. J. Baker et al. (ed.) Proc. Int. Grassl. Congr., 17th, Palmerston North, NZ. 8-21 Feb. 1993. New Zealand Grassl. Assn., Palmerston North.
Davies, A. 1974. Leaf tissue remaining after cutting and regrowth in perennial ryegrass. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 82:165-172.
Davies, A., M. E. Evans, and J. K. Exley. 1983. Regrowth of perennial ryegrass as affected by simulated leaf sheaths. J. Agric. Sci., Camb., 101:131-137.
Fulkerson, W. J., K. Slack, K. Moore, and C. Rofle. 1993. Management of Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens pastures in the subtropics. I. Effect of defoliation interval, seeding rate and application of N and Lime. Aust. J. Agric. Res., 44:1947 1958.
Garay, A. H., J. Hodgson, and C. Matthew. 1997. Effect of spring grazing management on perennial ryegrass and ryegrass-white clover pastures. 1. Tissue turnover and herbage accumulatin N. Z. J. Agric. Res., 40:25 35.
Grant, S. A., G. T. Barthram, and L. Torvell. 1981. Components of regrowth in grazed and cut Lolium perenne swards. Grass and Forage Sci., 36:155 168.
Hirakawa, M., T. Okubo, and R. Kayama. 1985. Seasonal dry matter production in grazed pasture of Paspalum notatum and cumulative effect of defoliation. p. 598 600. Proc. Int. Grassl. Congr., 15th, Kyoto, Japan. 24-31 Aug. 1985. Japan. Soc. Grassl. Sci.
Hirata, M. 1993a. Response of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) sward to cutting height. 2. Yield and in vitro digestibility of herbage. J. Japan. Grassl. Sci., 39:183-195.
Hirata, M. 1993b. Response of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) sward to cutting height. 3. Density of tillers, stolons and primary roots. J. Japan. Grassl. Sci., 39:196-205.
Hirata, M. 2000. Effects of nitrogen fertiliser rate and cutting height on leaf appearance and extension in bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) swards. Trop. Grassl., 34:7-13.
Hirata, M., and M. Ueno. 1993. Response of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) sward to cutting height. 1. Dry weight of plant and litter. J. Japan. Grassl. Sci., 38:487-497.
Jewis, O. R. 1972. Tillering in grasses-its significance and control. J. Br. Grassl. Soc., 27:65-82.
Korte, C. J. 1986. Tillering in 'Grasslands Nui' perennial ryegrass swards. 2. Seasonal pattern of tillering and age of flowering tillers with two mowing frequencies. N. Z. J. Agric. Res., 29: 629 638.
Korte, C. J., B. R. Watkin, and W. Harris. 1984. Effect of the timing and intensity of spring grazing on reproductive development, tillering, and herbage production of perennial ryegrass dominant pasture. N. Z. J. Agric. Res., 27:135 149.
Lemaire, G. and D. Chapman. 1996. Tissue flows in grazed plant communities. p. 3-36. In J. Hodgson and A.W. Illius (ed) The ecology and management of grazing systems. CAB International, Wallingford.
Matthew, C., C. K. Black, and B. M. Butler. 1993. Tiller dynamics of perennation in three herbage grasses. p. 141 143. In M.J. Baker et al. (ed.) Proc. Int. Grassl. Congr., 17th, Palmerston North, NZ. 8-21 Feb. 1993. New Zealand Grassl. Assn., Palmerston North.
Matthew, C., S. J. Quilter, C. J. Korte, A. C. P. Chu, and A. D. Mackay. 1989. Stolon formation and significance for sward tiller dynamics in perennial ryegrass. Proc. N. Z. Grassl. Assoc., 50: 255-259.
McKenzie, F. R. 1997. Influence of grazing frequency and intensity on the density and persistence of Lolium perenne tillers under subtropical conditions. Trop. Grassl., 31:219-226.
Ong, C. K. 1978. The physiology of tiller death in grasses. 1. The influence of tiller age, size and position. J. Br. Grassl. Soc., 33:197-203.
Ong, C. K., C. Marshall, and G. R. Sagar. 1978. The physiology of tiller death in grasses. 2. Causes of tilller death in a grass sward. J. Br. Grassl. Soc., 33: 205-211.
Pakiding, W. and M. Hirata. 1999. Tillering in a bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) pasture under cattle grazing: results from the first two years. Trop. Grassl., 33: 170-176.
Sato, K., N. Nishimura, and M. Ito. 1967. Eco physiological studies on maintenance of density in forage crop sward. V. The effects of plant density, level of nitrogen application and cutting frequency on the tillering behaviour and its relation to the yield of orchardgrass sward originated from one clone (In Japanese, with English abstract.) J. Japan. Grassl. Sci., 13: 128 143.
Simon, J. C., and G. Lemaire. 1987. Tillering and leaf area index in grasses in the vegetative phase. Grass and Forage Sci., 42:373-380.
Stanley, R. L., E. R. Beaty, and J. D. Powell. 1977. Forage yield and percent cell wall constituents of Pensacola bahiagrass as related to N fertilization and clipping height. Agron. J., 69: 501-504.
Thom, E. R. 1991. Effect of early spring grazing frequency on the reproductive growth and development of a perennial ryegrass tiller population. N. Z. J. Agric. Res., 34: 383 389.
Vine, D. A. 1983. Sward structure changes within a perennial ryegrass sward: leaf appearance and death. Grass and Forage Sci., 38: 231-242.
