Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T03:36:35.893Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Developmental characteristics of grass varieties in relation to their herbage production

5. The effects of nitrogen treatment on the relative development of upper and lower internodes of mature reproductive tillers of Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

I. Davies
I. Davies
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The length and weight per unit length of individual internodes of mature reproductive tillers of S. 24 and S. 23 perennial ryegrass and S. 345 and S. 143 cocksfoot were examined under three manurial treatments. At the lower level of nitrogen application successive internodes generally increased in length from the base upward. With additional nitrogen there was an increased proportion of tillers in which internodes near the base of the stem were longer than those immediately above them; lateheading tillers were most affected.

Nitrogen increased the weight per unit length of upper internodes of all four varieties; the effect was most marked in S. 23 ryegrass. In the two ryegrasses, nitrogen reduced the weight per unit length of the basal internode.

At maturity the upper internodes had lower dry-matter digestibility values than the lower. Nitrogen reduced the dry-matter digestibility of upper and lower internodes.

The results are discussed in relation to selection criteria in variety synthesis.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 94 , Issue 1 , February 1980 , pp. 125 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bower, F. O. (1939). Botany of the Living Plant, pp. 168–186. London: MacMillan.Google Scholar
Brockman, J. S. (1966). The growth rate of grass as influenced by fertiliser nitrogen and stage of defoliation. Proceedings 10th International Grassland Congress, Helsinki, pp. 234–240.Google Scholar
Davies, I. (1969). The influence of management on tiller development and herbage growth. Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Technical Bulletin No. 3.Google Scholar
Davies, I. (1976). Developmental characteristics of grass varieties in relation to their herbage production. 1. An analysis of high-digestibility varieties of Dactylis glomerata at three stages of development. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 87, 25–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, I. (1978). Developmental characteristics of grass varieties in relation to their herbage production. 3. Tiller development in Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne in relation to head emergence. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 91, 117–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, I. (1979 a). Developmental characteristics of grass varieties in relation to their herbage production. 4. The effect of nitrogen on the length and longevity of leaf blades in primary growth of Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata and Phleum pratense. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 92, 277–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, I. (1979 b). Tiller behaviour near dung pats. Report of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station for 1978. (In the Press.)Google Scholar
Dent, J. W. (1974). Grass for conservation – variety, cutting date and digestibility. In Quality of Herbage. The Proceedings of the 5th General Meeting of European Grassland Federation, 1973, Vaxtodling. 29, 66–71.Google Scholar
Hardwick, K. & Woolhouse, H. W. (1967). Foliar senescence in Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. New Phytologist 66, 545–552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, K., Rushton, W. H. & Jones, E. L. (1975). Persistency studies. Report of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station for 1974, pp. 46–47.Google Scholar
Jones, D. I. H., Walters, R. J. K. & Breese, E. L. (1973). The evolution of herbage breeding programmes for improved voluntary intake and other nutritive characteristics. Proceedings 5th General Meeting European Grassland Federation, Uppsala, pp. 111–120.Google Scholar
Milthorpe, F. L. & Davidson, J. L. (1966). Physiological aspects of regrowth in grasses. In The Growth of Cereals and Grasses. Proceedings 12th Easter School in Agricultural Science, Nottingham, 1965 (ed. Milthorpe, F. L. and Ivins, J. D.), pp. 241–255. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Mowat, D. N., Fulkerson, K. S., Tossell, W. E. & Winch, J. E. (1965). The in vitro digestibility and protein content of leaf and stem portions of forages. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 45, 321–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mulder, E. G. (1954). Effect of mineral nutrition on lodging in cereals. Plant and Soil 5, 246–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pinthus, M. J. (1973). Lodging in wheat, barley and oats: the phenomenon, its causes and preventive measures. Advances in Agronomy 25, 209–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, H. M. (1966). The seed productivity of perennial ryegrass varieties. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 66, 225–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walters, R. J. K. (1976). The field assessment of digestibility of grass for conservation. ADAS Quarterly Review 23, 323–328.Google Scholar