EFFECT OF CLIPPING AT VARIOUS HEIGHTS ON CHARACTERISTICS OF REGROWTH IN REED CANARYGRASS (PHALARIS ARUNDINACEAL.)
Reed canarygrass, (Phalaris arundinacea L.) grown under greenhouse conditions was clipped at stubble heights of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 inches. Ten inches of regrowth was permitted the plants for each treatment. The effects of these treatments were studied in relation to the regrowth interval, yield, growth characteristics and quality.The data disclosed that fewer days were required to produce 10 inches of regrowth for the 4- and 5-inch heights and consequently a larger number of clippings were obtained over a given period of time for these same treatments. This increase in the number of clippings resulted in greater total yields of dry matter. Yield of dry matter was positively correlated with the number of tillers per plant.Leaf measurements showed that the leaf growth of reed canarygrass is complete when the base of the leaf is free of the sheath. Branching from nodes occurred for all treatments but most frequently for the taller heights of stubble.Chemical analyses for lignin and nitrogen indicated that clipping at the 4- and 5-inch heights was not detrimental to the quality of the forage.