Recruitment of Phalaris aquatica within existing swards. 1. Effects of biomass manipulation, seed level modification and site preparation

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 701 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Thapa ◽  
D. R. Kemp ◽  
D. L. Michalk

A successful recruitment event in perennial grasslands is infrequent and when it occurs, the rate of recruitment and survival is low, <1% in most occasions. This paper reports on two field experiments that investigate the effects of biomass manipulation, seed level modification and site preparation on the recruitment of Phalaris aquatica seedlings. The experiments were done through drier than average years, where P. aquatica achieved successful recruitment of seedlings. Recruitment rates proportional to total seed set were 1.3–13.3% in experiment 1 and 0.5–4.2% in experiment 2. The control treatment, on average, resulted in 352 seedlings/m2 in experiment 1 and 16/m2 in experiment 2 compared with the best treatments which had 500 and 38/m2, respectively, on average. There was poor seed set in experiment 2 before the recruitment event. Presence of existing biomass compared with either removing or leaving the plant material on the ground had greater success on seedling emergence, whereas seed addition had little effect suggesting that microsites may be more important than seed availability for P. aquatica seedling emergence. Soil scarification in general failed to have significant effects in both experiments. Seedlings survived until the following summer, but few then remained through the ensuing drought. This research showed that minimal intervention was needed to encourage emergence and early survival, and provides data on the mechanisms involved for recruitment of a perennial grass species in existing swards.

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Dowling ◽  
PTW Wong

The effect of 5 preseason management treatments on seed set reduction of annual weed grasses and their regeneration in the following autumn was evaluated in a 2-year field experiment commencing at Orange in spring 1986. Preseason (spring) treatments were paraquat, glyphosate (2 rates), unsprayed heavy grazing, and unsprayed control. In the first of 2 successive wheat crops (planted 1987), 3 in-crop weed control treatments [control, chlorsulfuron (both sod-seeded), and trifluralin plus cultivation] were imposed. In 1988, the second wheat crop was sown into a cultivated seedbed or direct-drilled. The preseason treatments reduced potential annual grass regeneration by 91-99% compared with the control, with heavy grazing being the best treatment. For each preseason treatment compared with the control, the pattern of actual seedling emergence within the crop during 1987 was similar to that of potential emergence for each grass species (except Lolium rigidum), but numbers were lower and more variable (7-86% of potential numbers). The proportion of Bromus spp. and Vulpia spp. emerging within the crop declined from the first to the second crop, while L. rigidum increased to an average of 93% of the annual grass population in 1988. Trifluralin plus cultivation increased the control of annual grasses in 1987. In 1988, the 1987 in-crop treatments had little carryover effect on annual grass control; however, wheat grain yield was increased by both chlorsulfuron and trifluralin. Preseason management reduced seed set of annual grass weeds, and this control was maintained under cropping for at least 2 years (except for L. rigidum). Wheat grain yield responded to this control. Long-term control of L. rigidum where soil is disturbed appears difficult because of apparent long-lived seed in the soil.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric K. Anderson ◽  
Aaron G. Hager ◽  
DoKyoung Lee ◽  
Damian J. Allen ◽  
Thomas B. Voigt

Miscanthus × giganteus cv. Illinois is a high-yielding perennial grass crop being developed for cellulosic biomass production in the United States. It is a sterile cultivar and must be established using plantlets or rhizomes; this asexual propagation is relatively expensive, thereby limiting more widespread acceptance. Perennial, tetraploid, seeded types of M. × giganteus have been developed that could reduce establishment costs, while producing high biomass yields. Weed control during the year of establishment is essential because this grass crop does not compete well with weeds in the establishment year. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to identify PRE and POST herbicides that would not adversely affect seeded M. × giganteus emergence or growth. Imazethapyr and quinclorac applied PRE had no negative affect on M. × giganteus growth in the greenhouse with respect to seedling emergence, plant height, observed injury symptoms, or fresh weight. In the field, plant emergence was significantly higher with quinclorac plus atrazine than the nontreated control, and emergence with isoxaflutole plus atrazine was not significantly different from the control. Six herbicides applied POST in the greenhouse showed little or no negative effect on miscanthus growth. In the field, several PRE plus POST herbicide combinations did not negatively affect M. × giganteus growth; however, none of these provided adequate weed control under irrigated conditions. Further evaluation of PRE and POST herbicides is needed to identify robust weed control options that are safe on seeded M. × giganteus.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-505
Author(s):  
W. James Grichar ◽  
John Lloyd-Reilley ◽  
Jeff Rahmes ◽  
W. R. Ocumpaugh ◽  
Jamie L. Foster

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of a carbon band to provide a “safe zone” for seedling emergence and growth of three native grass species. ‘KIKA677’ streambed bristlegrass germplasm, ‘Alamo’ switchgrass, and ‘Waelder’ shortspike windmillgrass germplasm were used in combination with several PRE- and POST-applied herbicides including cloransulam, flumioxazin, imazapic, imazethapyr, and 2,4-D. In a greenhouse experiment, switchgrass emergence was improved when a carbon band was used with imazapic or imazethapyr at 0.04 and 0.07 kg ai ha−1or 2,4-D at 2.12 kg ae ha−1. Windmillgrass emergence was improved when carbon was used in combination with flumioxazin at 0.05 and 0.1 kg ai ha−1, imazapic at 0.04 and 0.07 kg ha−1, imazethapyr at 0.07 kg ha−1, and 2,4-D at 1.06 kg ha−1, whereas bristlegrass emergence was improved when carbon was used in combination with flumioxazin at 0.1 kg ai ha−1, imazapic at both rates, and imazethapyr at 0.04 kg ha−1. Field studies indicated that flumioxazin at 0.05 and 0.1 kg ha−1, imazapic at 0.04 kg ha−1, and imazethapyr at 0.04 and 0.07 kg ha−1, were safened for bristlegrass and switchgrass emergence when used with carbon. Windmillgrass emergence and growth were improved when carbon was used in combination with flumioxazin at 0.1 kg ha−1.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
David J. Brunton ◽  
Peter Boutsalis ◽  
Gurjeet Gill ◽  
Christopher Preston

AbstractTwo field experiments were conducted during 2018 at Paskeville and Arthurton, South Australia, to identify effective herbicide options for the control of thiocarbamate-resistant rigid ryegrass in wheat. Dose–response experiments confirmed resistance in both field populations (T1 and A18) of rigid ryegrass to triallate, prosulfocarb, trifluralin, and pyroxasulfone. T1 and A18 were 17.9- and 20-fold more resistant to triallate than susceptible SLR4. The level of resistance detected in T1 to prosulfocarb (5.9-fold) and pyroxasulfone (4-fold) was lower compared to A18, which displayed 12.1- and 7.8-fold resistance to both herbicides, respectively. Despite resistance, the mixture of two different preplant-incorporated (PPI) site-of-action herbicides improved rigid ryegrass control and wheat yield compared to a single PPI herbicide only. Prosulfocarb + triallate and prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor + triallate did not reduce rigid ryegrass seed set when compared to prosulfocarb applied alone at the higher rate (2,400 g ai ha–1). Pyroxasulfone + triallate PPI followed by glyphosate (1,880 g ai ha-1) as a weed seed set control treatment reduced rigid ryegrass seed production by 93% and 95% at both sites, respectively. These herbicides also significantly improved grain yield of wheat at Paskeville (22%) and Arthurton (38%) compared to the untreated.


2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Thapa ◽  
D. R. Kemp ◽  
D. L. Michalk ◽  
W. B. Badgery ◽  
A. T. Simmons

Two field experiments, one each on Austrodanthonia spp. and Bothriochloa macra, investigated the effects of biomass manipulation, seed level modification, site preparation and pasture composition on the recruitment of native perennial grass seedlings. The experiments coincided with drier than average years and although successful emergence of seedlings occurred, survival was extremely low. In the Austrodanthonia experiment, control treatments resulted in the emergence of only 1 seedling/m2, whereas there were 130/m2 in the best treatment which had biomass cut with plant material removed, seed added, and the soil surface scarified. Insecticide treatments increased emergence as seed-harvesting ants are common in these systems, but the benefits were small. Similarly, B. macra had no emergence in the control treatment compared with 73 seedlings/m2 in the best treatment, which was pasture cropped, and had seed added and herbicide applied. Availability of microsites may be a major constraint to B. macra emergence, as soil disturbance through pasture cropping substantially increased seedling numbers (279/m2). The effects of herbicide on emergence were small with the largest being related to bare ground and litter biomass. Austrodanthonia seedling numbers at emergence were related to bare ground, litter and green biomass. Survival of young Austrodanthonia plants 24 weeks after emergence was negatively related to plant cover, but only in treatments where plant material was cut and removed. The success of survival was determined at 52 weeks after emergence and the number of young plants that survived in both experiments seemed to have been influenced by the presence of competitive biomass of existing plants.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (04) ◽  
pp. 4958
Author(s):  
Dulal De

Hymenachne acutigluma (Steud.) Gilliland, a robust rhizomatous perennial grass spreads on moist and swampy land and also floating in water. Being a grass species, they do not have any cambium for secondary growth. A peculiarity in stem anatomy especially the spongy pith of secondary tissues found in absence of the cambium. The origin and development of the parenchymatous pith tissues has been investigated in the present study. Economically this spongy pith is of very much potent for its high absorbing and filtering capacity and also used as a good fodder.


1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda S. Smith ◽  
Don S. Murray ◽  
J. D. Green ◽  
Wan M. Wanyahaya ◽  
David L. Weeks

Barnyardgrass, large crabgrass, and Texas panicum were evaluated in field experiments over 3 yr to measure their duration of interference and density on grain sorghum yield. When grain yield data were converted to a percentage of the weed-free control, linear regression predicted a 3.6% yield loss for each week of weed interference regardless of year or grass species. Grain sorghum grown in a narrow (61-cm) row spacing was affected little by full-season interference; however, in wide (91-cm) rows, interference increased as grass density increased. Data from the wide-row spacing were described by linear regression following conversion of grain yield to percentages and weed density to log10. A separate nonlinear model also was derived which could predict the effect of weed density on grain sorghum yield.


1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. BULLEN ◽  
R. J. SOPER ◽  
L. D. BAILEY

Growth chamber and field experiments were conducted on Southern Manitoba soils, low in available soil phosphorus, to investigate the effects of various placement methods and levels of phosphorus fertilizer on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill ’Maple Presto’). It was found that soybean responded well to applied phosphorus on low-P soil in growth chamber studies. In the first growth chamber experiment, P was applied in solution to 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 1% of the total soil volume. Dry matter yields, total phosphorus uptake and utilization of fertilizer P increased at each level of applied P as the size of the phosphated band was decreased. The results were partly attributed to greater chemical availability of P in the smaller zones of P fertilizer reaction. In a second growth chamber experiment, soybeans responded differently to phosphorus banded in six different locations. Placement of the fertilizer 2.5 cm directly below the seed was more effective in increasing dry matter yield, total phosphorus uptake and fertilizer P utilization than placement 2.5 cm and 5 cm away at the same depth or placement 5 cm below the seed, whether the band was directly below, 2.5 cm away or 5 cm away. Soybean yield responses in the field were greatest with P banded 2.5 cm directly below the seed on low-P soils. Placement of P 2.5 cm below the seed resulted in grain yields that were 64% and 50% higher (at the two sites) than those obtained in control plots. Sidebanding P, 2.5 cm below and 2.5 cm away from the seed at the same level of application, improved grain yields of control plots by 40% and 39%. Seed placement and broadcast applications of P were not as effective in increasing grain yields. Broadcasting P in fall or in spring at rates of up to 52.38 kg P/ha did not result in significantly higher grain yields than those obtained in control plots. Placement of P in contact with the seed appeared to reduce seedling emergence, resulting in depressed yields when 52.38 kg P/ha were applied. Key words: Glycine max L. Merrill, ’Maple Presto’


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Teng ◽  
Lei Ba ◽  
Deli Wang ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Jushan Liu

Many studies indicated that saliva from herbivores might be involved in plant growth responses when plants have been grazed. However, there is currently no general agreement on whether saliva can affect plant growth. Our aims were to determine the growth response of plants to sheep saliva after defoliation under diverse environmental conditions (different sward structures), and whether the effect of saliva is influenced by time (duration) after its application. We conducted field experiments with clipping treatments and the application of sheep saliva to the damaged parts of tillers to simulate sheep grazing on the perennial grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev during the early growing seasons. Results demonstrated that clipping with saliva application significantly increased tiller numbers 8 weeks after treatments in comparison with clipping alone. A key finding is that the effect of sheep saliva on plant growth was short-lived. Clipping with saliva application increased leaf weight in the second week, while clipping alone had no effect. Moreover, clipping with saliva application promoted the elongation of new leaves (not the old ones) in the first week whereas clipping alone was ineffective. Results also showed that there were no differences between clipping with saliva application and clipping alone for relative height growth rate and aboveground biomass. Therefore, we concluded that saliva application to clipping treatment would produce an additional effect compared to clipping alone for the plant and the positive effects are time dependent. The additional effects primarily embodied in the individual level of plant, such as the changes of leaf weight and leaf length. Beyond the level, the effects of saliva only produced many more tiller numbers rather than the accumulation of aboveground biomass.


2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Graham ◽  
S. K. Florentine ◽  
J. E. D. Fox ◽  
T. M. Luong

The paper reports soil seedbank species composition, of Eucalyptus victrix grassy woodlands, of the upper Fortescue River in the Pilbara District, Western Australia. In this study, our objectives were to investigate germinable soil seedbanks and species composition in response to three simulated seasons, using emergence. Variation in seed density from three depths was tested. Four field sites were sampled. Thirty samples were collected in late spring, after seed rain and before summer rainfall. From each sample spot, three soil depths (surface, 1–5, and 6–10 cm) were segregated from beneath surface areas of 100 cm2. Samples were later incubated in a glasshouse to simulate three different seasonal conditions (autumn, winter and spring). Germinating seedlings were recorded on emergence and grown until identified. Forty-one species germinated, comprising 11 grasses (7 annuals and 4 perennials), 25 annual herbs and 5 perennial herbs. Distribution patterns of germinable seed in both the important annual grass Eragrostis japonica and the perennial Eragrostis setifolia (a preferred cattle fodder species), suggest that seedbank accumulation differs among species and between sites. In part, this may be associated with the absence of grazing. Species with most total germinable seed were E. japonica (Poaceae; 603/m2), and the annual herbs Calotis multicaulis (Asteraceae; 346/m2), and Mimulus gracilis (Scrophulariaceae; 168/m2). Perennial grass seed was sparse. Spring simulation gave most germination (1059), followed by autumn (892) and winter (376) sets. Greatest species diversity was produced from the spring simulation (33 species), followed by autumn (26), and winter (22). Of the total germination, 92% came from 17 species that were represented in all three simulations. Of the 1227 grass seedlings counted, most were recruited from the surface soil (735), followed by the 5 (310) and 10 (182) cm depths. Marginally more grass seedlings germinated from the spring simulation (558) than the autumn set (523). Only 11.9% of grass germinants came from the winter simulation. All grass species recruited from the soil seedbanks had a C4 photosynthetic pathway. Except for Cenchrus ciliaris all grass species are native to Australia. Of the four sites sampled, one fenced to exclude cattle five years earlier had significantly more germination than the three unfenced sites. Seedbank sampling produced several new records for plants in the areas sampled.


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