Effects of grazing, clipping and altitude on dry matter production and partitioning in some herbaceous forage species
2007
Jha, S. (Tribhuvan Univ., Biratnagar (Nepal). Dept. of Botany)
Among the studied species (grass: Axonopus compressus and Chrysopogon aciculatus; legume: Alysicarpus vaginalis and Desmodium triflorum), maximum and minimum values of total dry weight per individual (TDW) were recorded in moderately grazed open pasture (MGOP) and occasionally grazed pasture (OGP), respectively in both C. aciculatus and A. vaginalis in MGOP and moderately grazed partially shaded pasture (MGPSP), respectively in D. triflorum; and in OGP and moderately grazed shaded pasture (MGSP) in A. compressus at Biratnagar (72 m altitude). Maximum contribution of leaves to TDW was recorded in MGPSP in A. compressus, in OGP in C. aciculatus, and in MGOP in both the legumes, whereas the specific leaf area (SLA) of all the studied species was lowest in value in heavily grazed pasture (HGP). In pot-cultured plants, TDW was highest in value in unclipped individuals irrigated at every 3rd day intervals in the order: A. compressus (6.46 g) greater than C. aciculatus (4.39 g) greater than A. vaginalis (3.63 g) greater than D. triflorum (2.15 g); whereas contribution of leaves to TDW was highest in twice clipped individuals irrigated at every third-day intervals in all the studied species. The studied species (except C. (aciculatus) had higher TDW at lower (72 m) than at higher (1300 m / 241 m in case of A. vaginalis) altitude, and in contrary to the legumes brasses had more leaf content at higher than at lower altitude.
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