ISSN:
1365-2494
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne were grown in single-species stands and in mixed-species stands in boxes for 1 year. Plants were grown in paired rows in each box with full competition below ground, but aerial partitions prevented shoot competition. The rows were cut either frequently (six cuts) or infrequently (three cuts).In single-species stands, frequent defoliation reduced the root competitive ability of D. glomerata plants, when growing with infrequently defoliated plants, though this occurred only if no N fertilizer was applied. Frequent defoliation did not affect the root competitive ability of L. perenne plants, in single-species stands, whether or not N fertilizer was applied.In mixed-species stands, the root competitive ability of D. glomerata was always greater than that of L. perenne, though N fertilizer applications and frequent cutting both reduced the root competitive ability of D. glomerata relative to L. perenne.Mixtures of frequently cut and infrequently cut plants, in unfertilized single-species stands, always yielded more than the mean of the uniformly treated stands (frequently or infrequently cut); they usually yielded more than the highest-yielding uniformly treated stand. Mixtures of frequently and infrequently cut plants, in fertilized single-species stands, always yielded less than the mean of uniformly treated stands.Mixed-species stands usually yielded more than the mean yield of the component species, and sometimes yielded significantly more than the highest yielding component. This effect generally increased with time.Relative yield totals (RYT) were consistently greater than 1·0, in both single-species and mixed-species stands, when no N fertilizer was applied. RYT were greatest (1·2–1·6) when neither N nor P fertilizer was applied, and generally increased with time.The results are discussed in relation to the effects of cutting on root competition and the probable value of mixed-species stands.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1980.tb01497.x
