HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Buxton, D. R. Articles by Wedin, W. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Buxton, D. R. Articles by Wedin, W. F. Agricola Articles by Buxton, D. R. Articles by Wedin, W. F.

Establishment of Perennial Forages II. Subsequent Root Development¹

The effect of interspecies competition during establishment of three perennial forage grasses and three perennial legume species on subsequent root development was investigated in two similar field experiments.

Interspecies competition had a greater effect on the upper 15-cm root yield of the legume and upper 10-cm root-rhizome yield of the grass species than on forage yields.

During the year after seeding, when fertility and moisture were limiting factors, lowest carbohydrate levels occurred in weeded swards with heavier root weights (g/m²). Highest carbohydrate levels in unweeded treatments probably resulted because a low quantity of minerals and water was supplied by the smaller root systems, which limited growth and resulted in carbohydrate accumulation. When moisture and fertility were adequate, little difference existed in carbohydrate levels among treatments, although large differences existed in root weights. This observation can explain the more pronounced treatment effects on forage yields that were observed when moisture and fertility were low.

Key Words: Carbohydrate levels • Root weights • Interspecies competition

² Research Associate (now Assistant Agronomist, Department of Agronomy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721) and Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010.

Received for publication June 30, 1969.