scholarly journals Effect of cover crops on maize-velvet leaf competition: leaf area density and light interception

2016 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 409
Author(s):  
Faezeh Zaefarian ◽  
Zahara Shakibafar ◽  
Mohammad Rezvani ◽  
Hamid SALEHIAN
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Sole Cropping ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Row Space

<p>Cover crops influence on canopy structure and light interception of maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) and velvetleaf (<em>Abutilon theophrasti</em> Medik), was studied in a field experiment. Treatments included planting of bean (<em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em> L.), soybean (<em>Glycine max </em>(L.) Merr.) and berseem clover (<em>Trifolium alexandrium</em> L.) as cover crops at the same date and 21 days after maize. Sole cropping of maize under weed- free and weedy conditions were also included in this experiment. All tested cover crops significantly reduced leaf area density and height of velvetleaf up to 50 %, while maize leaf area density increased in the presence of cover crops. Among cover crops, bean and soybean were the most effective in reducing velvetleaf leaf area density and height. Bean and soybean also strongly reduced absorbed light by velvetleaf by up to 80 % compared to clover. Maize grain yields were significantly influenced by cover crops planting in the inter row space. Compared to weeds free plots, only treatment with soybean as a cover crop resulted in similar maize grain yields, while maize intercropping with bean and clover significantly reduced maize yields. Delayed planting of cover crops, 21 day after maize, increased maize grain yield compared to cover crops and maize planting at the same time.</p>

scholarly journals STUDY ON INDIRECT ESTIMATING LEAF AREA DENSITY

2006 ◽  
Vol 71 (603) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Ai KADAIRA ◽  
Harunori YOSHIDA ◽  
Daisuke MURAKAMI ◽  
Mamiko ITOU
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Leaf Area Density

Effect of sward structure of two tropical grasses with contrasting canopies on light distribution, net photosynthesis and size of bite harvested by grazing cattle

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Ludlow ◽  
TH Stobbs ◽  
R Davos ◽  
DA Charles-Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Growth Regulators ◽  
Light Distribution ◽  
Trimethylammonium Chloride ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Area Density ◽  
Tropical Grasses ◽  
Bite Size ◽  
Leaf Area Density ◽  
Grazing Cattle

Our aim was to determine whether increasing the sward density of tropical pastures, for the purpose of enhancing the size of bite harvested by grazing cattle, would reduce yield by affecting light distribution andcanopy photosynthesis. The growth regulators (2-chloroethy1)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and gibberillic acid (GA) were used to alter the leaf area density of the tussock-forming grass Setavia sphacelata and of the sward-forming grass Digitaria decumbens. GA increased plant height, the length of stem internodes, and the size of bite harvested by cattle. On the other hand, CCC decreased canopy height, and increased leaf area density and bite size. The variation of leaf area density, investigated experimentally by using growth regulators (5-25 m-1) and theoretically by simulation modelling (5-40 m-1), had no significant effect on either leaf or canopy photosynthetic characteristics. Hence we believe that there would be a negligible reduction in yield of these tropical grasses if their leaf area densities were increased up to a value of 40 m-1, which exceeds those of temperate pastures. Such increases in leaf area density may increase animal production from tropical pastures where bite size limits daily intake of forage. The agricultural implications of the findings are discussed.

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