Establishment of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) pastures in Hokkaido [Japan], 2: Grassland management for increasing the number of tillers and rhizome length
2005
Saigusa, T.(National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region, Sapporo (Japan)) | Tejima, S. | Ogawa, Y. | Takahashi, S.
Tiller increase and rhizome development as well as herbage production and animal performance were investigated for 3 years in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) pastures, to which Glyphosate had been applied soon before seeding to kill dominant weeds. The tiller density of Kentucky bluegrass had reached approximately 10,000 per square meter by next spring. Following the temporary decrease during reproductive stage in May and June, the tiller number increased again and recovered previous value in a shorter period, and continued gradual increase until autumn. Rhizome elongation started after the completion of dense tiller population. Fairly quick herbage growth at the rate of 2.4-4.6 g/m(2)/day was achieved in the spring following the seeding year. This might be brought by the high tiller density realized through the utilization of the weed control prior to seeding of Kentucky bluegrass. The total length of rhizomes per square meter, however, was only 5 m in the winter of the seeding year. Vigorous rhizome elongation started the next spring, and the total length increased to 150 m/m(2) by July. It is therefore recommended that the commencement of grazing be delayed or that the grazing intensity be reduced in the following spring. In July, when the developed rhizomes become dense in the subterranean zones of pasture and many new tillers have begun to appear on the ground, a grazing intensity of 3 heads per hectare can be expected.
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