The Growth Response of Pasture Brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) to Defoliation Frequency under Two Soil-Water Restriction Levels

Pasture brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) has the potential to increase current levels of herbage production and pasture persistence in New Zealand dryland, well-drained soils. However, there is little literature on the effect of defoliation management on growth of this grass under contrasting soil-w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2021-02, Vol.11 (2), p.300
Main Authors: García-Favre, Javier, López, Ignacio F., Cranston, Lydia M., Donaghy, Daniel J., Kemp, Peter D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arid zones
Bromus
Carbohydrates
Defoliation
Drought
Field capacity
Grasses
Greenhouses
Harvesting
Irrigation
leaf regrowth stage
Loam soils
management
Moisture content
Pasture
perennial grass
Potassium
Rain
Regrowth
root growth
Soil conditions
Soil water
Soils
Sulfur
tiller survival
Water availability
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Summary:Pasture brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) has the potential to increase current levels of herbage production and pasture persistence in New Zealand dryland, well-drained soils. However, there is little literature on the effect of defoliation management on growth of this grass under contrasting soil-water restriction levels. The growth physiology and performance of pasture brome were evaluated in pots in a glasshouse. Defoliation frequency (DF) treatments were applied based on three different accumulated growing degree-days (AGDD): 250, 500 and 1000 AGDD (high, medium, and low DF). At end of the first growing cycle (1000 AGDD), water availability was restricted to 20–25% of field capacity (FC) in half of the pots, while the other pots were maintained between 80–85% FC. Total accumulated herbage mass was positively related with the low DF and well-watered conditions (p < 0.05). At the final harvest, plants subjected to low DF had greater root mass than high and medium DF (p < 0.05). At each harvest, the leaf regrowth stage (LS) for low DF was 3.5, while for high and medium DF, the LS was 1.5 and 2.0; respectively. Tiller water-soluble carbohydrates were highest at the low DF and under 20–25% FC. Regardless of soil-water conditions, defoliation at 3.5 LS supports production, enhancing survival during a drought.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy11020300