The relation between yield and the reproductive phase in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) in a winter rainfall environment

Studies were made of six genotypes of Dactylis glomerata grown in defoliated clonal swards in the Mediterranean-type environment of southern Australia. Differences between genotypes in timing of reproductive phase stem elongation was the main cause of yield differences for 5 months of the growing season. This latter period compares with the 3–4 weeks for differentiation of ecotypes found in northern temperate regions, and is a result of the winter growing season and lower latitude. High yields were obtained under midwinter conditions from early genotypes. The yield of late genotypes was affected by moisture stress in the spring of some years, and their production was very erratic from year to year. The ranking of the genotypes was affected by the date of the previous harvest. Initiation of reproductive buds was variable between genotypes, and some genotypes carried initiated buds throughout the year.

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The effects of plant density and frequency of cutting on the growth of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). II. Yield in the vegetative and reproductive phases

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9700653 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 653 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R Knight

Keyword(s):

Plant Density ◽

Unit Area ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Growing Season ◽

High Density ◽

Optimal Density ◽

Cutting Frequency ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L ◽

High Yields ◽

Reproductive Phases

The effects of plant density and cutting frequency on the reproductive phase and yield in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) were investigated. The plants of a clone were established at nine spacings that increased geometrically from 4 in. (10 cm) to 17 in. (42.5 cm) between plants to provide densities from 9 plants per sq ft to 0.5 plant per sq ft. They were cut every 2,4, or 8 weeks or cut once at the end of the growing season. Early in the season when growth was purely vegetative the highest yield per unit area was obtained with plants at high densities. Later, in some treatments, but while the plants were still vegetative, the combined effect of very frequent cutting and high density weakened the plants and the highest yields were then obtained at somewhat lower densities. When the plants first became reproductive, the highest yields per unit area were at low densities, as these plants were the earliest to become reproductive and their elongated tillers led to high yields. The optimal density for yield changed with time towards greater density as plants at these greater densities in turn became reproductive. Frequent cutting and high density reduced both the vegetative and reproductive fractions of the plant but the reduction was greater in the reproductive fraction. As high yields were associated with the reproductive fraction, the highest yields for the season were obtained from the uncut plants or from plants cut infrequently (8-week intervals).

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The effects of plant density and frequency of cutting on the growth of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L). I. The production of vegetative and reproductive tillers

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9700009 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R Knight

Keyword(s):

Apical Dominance ◽

Plant Density ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Growing Season ◽

High Density ◽

Large Reduction ◽

Optimal Density ◽

Reproductive Phase ◽

Cutting Frequency ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

To study the effects of density and cutting frequency on the reproductive phase of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) the plants of a clone were established on a geometric scale at nine spacings ranging from 4 to 17 in, between plants, which provided densities from 9 plants to 0.5 plant per sq ft. The plants were cut every 2, 4, or 8 weeks or cut once at the end of the growing season. The cut tillers were classified as vegetative or reproductive (elongating and heading). The number of vegetative tillers per plant was reduced by high density in all treatments. A change in cutting frequency from every 8 to every 4 weeks had little effect on numbers but cutting every 2 weeks led to a large reduction in numbers. The reproductive tillers were affected by the treatments much more than the vegetative tillers. At most densities, more reproductive tillers were produced by the regularly cut plants than by the plants cut once at the end of the season. The increase was attributed to destruction of the apical dominance of early reproductive buds that inhibit the development of further reproductive tillers. Very frequent cutting and high density delayed the incidence of the reproductive phase for many weeks. The optimal density for the production of reproductive tillers changed with time. It was often lower than for vegetative tillers.

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The growth of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) under spaced plant and sward conditions

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9600457 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 457 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

R Knight

Keyword(s):

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Total Weight ◽

Poor Correlation ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Mediterranean Plants ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L ◽

The Individual

The cumulative growth of nine clones of Dactylis glomerata was compared under two conditions of spacing. The first spacing was chosen to provide conditions similar to those of a breeding nursery, the second, conditions met with in swards. Data were obtained for two growing seasons, the individual plant and its parts being considered at each harvest. Of the nine clones seven were developed from plants obtained from the Mediterranean region and two from Great Britain. There was a poor correlation between plants under the two spacing conditions, particularly as later in the life of the swards clones reacted differently to competition. Competition did not lead to a uniformity of top weight for the clones in the swards. These results are discussed in relation to the conflicting results of similar studies and the reaction of genotypes to factors of the environment affecting growth. It is suggested that plants in the vegetative phase are affected by competition differently from plants in the reproductive phase. Some clones were found to regenerate after summer dormancy more rapidly than others, but initial advantages were not maintained. The relative development of parts of the plants differed between clones, some having high proportions of their total weight below ground. At the time of reproduction, despite very large differences in total weight between plants of a clone under the two spacing conditions, the percentages of plant parts were very similar. A high mortality was shown during the summer by the two clones from northern European plants, but only a negligible mortality by the Mediterranean plants.

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Seasonal Changes in Leaf Tissue Rehydration of One Annual and Two Perennial Grass Forage Species Induced by Bioclimate

Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca ◽

10.15835/nbha43210057 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 479-487

Author(s):

Eirini - Ia KAPSALI ◽

Maria KARATASSIOU

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Water Content ◽

Perennial Grass ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Leaf Tissue ◽

Growing Season ◽

Grass Species ◽

Forage Species ◽

Relative Water ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Bioclimate signifies the continuous interplay between plants and climate factors (primarily drought) and has a direct impact on the water relations and the duration of the rehydration process in water stressed plants. To explore the association between bioclimate and water physiology of forage species in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands, we determined the seasonal variation in leaf water potential, turgid weight and relative water content in wild growing Dactylis glomerata L., Bromus inermis Leyss (perennial) and Bromus sterilis L. (annual) during the growing season. The study was conducted at the farm of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The results of the current study reveal that B. sterilis maintained high levels of water potential most probably by accelerating its biological cycle and decreasing water content because it fails to sustain turgidity. Dactylis glomerata and B. inermis presented even higher water contents than B. sterilis for the same water potential. Dactylis glomerata exhibited substantially higher water potential and content than B. inermis by keeping the rehydration duration stable. The extensive creeping rhizome seems to allow B. inermis to sustain high values of water potential and content possibly ensuring turgidity. Regardless of the grass species the duration of rehydration ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 hours throughout the growing season. Our findings demonstrate that (a) D. glomerata and B. inermis are better adapted to Mediterranean semiarid conditions than B. sterilis and (b) turgid weight in Mediterranean forage species can safely be determined after a rehydration period of 3.5 hours.

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INFLUENCE OF TIME AND RATE OF N APPLICATION ON YIELD AND CRUDE PROTEIN OF THREE COOL SEASON GRASSES GROWN ON ORGANIC SOILS

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps84-046 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 319-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

G. L. MALZER ◽

R. P. SCHOPER

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Growing Season ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Phalaris Arundinacea ◽

Organic Soils ◽

Reed Canarygrass ◽

The Third ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L ◽

Agropyron Repens

Three separate experiments were conducted with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), quackgrass (Agropyron repens L.), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) to determine the timing and rate effects of N fertilization for forage production on organic soils in northern Minnesota. Nine N treatments, using 0, 168 and 336 kg N/ha, were applied in single or split (up to four) applications during the growing season. Dry matter (DM) production and crude protein content of the forage were determined in a four-clipping management program. With N fertilization total DM production for the 2-yr study was increased, on the average, by 104, 37, and 121% for orchardgrass, quackgrass, and reed canarygrass. Total production of all three grasses was significantly increased up to the 336 kg N/ha application. On the control areas (0 N) quackgrass produced an average of 61 and 82% more total forage than orchardgrass and reed canarygrass. Split applications of fertilizer N during the growing season had relatively little influence on total DM productions. However, applying N later in the growing season significantly increased DM production of reed canarygrass for the third and fourth clippings. Late N applications significantly influenced orchardgrass in the third and fourth clippings consistently during only 1 yr of the experiment and did not alter quack-grass production in either year.Key words: Histosols, Dactylis glomerata L., Agropyron repens L., Phalaris arundinacea L.

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Leaf dynamics of Festulolium and Dactylis glomerata L. at the end of the growing season

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun200856040273 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 273-280

Author(s):

Jiří Skládanka

Keyword(s):

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Lolium Multiflorum ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Growing Season ◽

Extension Rate ◽

Appearance Rate ◽

Leaf Appearance Rate ◽

Senescence Rate ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L ◽

Leaf Appearance

The paper is focused on the assessment of leaf extension rate (LER), leaf appearance rate (LAR) and leaf senescence rate (LSR) in the Festulolium (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. × Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and in the Dactylis glomerata L. at the end of the growing season from the end of September to the beginning of December. In summer, the swards were used for a single cut (beginning of June) or for a double cut (beginning of June and end of July). Measurements were made in three periods from 14 Sept. to 11 Oct., from 11 Oct. to 29 Oct., and from 29 Oct. to 6 Dec. In the first period, LER was higher in Dactylis glomerata L. (3.770 mm tiller−1 d−1) than in Festulolium (2.376 mm tiller−1 d−1). In the second and third period, LER was higher in Festulolium (0.859 resp. 0.271 mm tiller−1 d−1) than in Dactylis glomerata L. (0.694, resp. 0.199 mm tiller−1 d−1). LAR values measured in Festulolium in the studied periods were 0.277 leaf tiller−1 d−1, 0.079 leaf tiller−1 d−1 and 0.038 leaf tiller−1 d−1 and LAR values of Dactylis glomerata L. were 0.225 leaf tiller−1 d−1, 0.054 leaf tiller−1 d−1 and 0.027 leaf tiller−1 d−1. In the course of the whole period of study, LSR showed the highest values in Dactylis glomerata L. (7.869 mm tiller−1 d−1, 5.947 mm tiller−1 d−1 and 4.757 mm tiller−1 d−1) while the LSR values of Festulolium were lower (2.904 mm tiller−1 d−1, 2.375 mm tiller−1 d−1 and 1.205 mm tiller−1 d−1). The influence of both the species and the period of measurement on the LER, LAR and LSR values was statistically highly significant (P < 0.01) to very highly significant (P < 0.001). The interaction between the species and the period of measurement was very highly significant (P < 0.001) in the LER characteristic. The influence of the intensity of sward use in summer on the LSR values was very highly significant (P < 0.001), too.

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