Abstract
A study was made on the effect of burning on the growth of culms above ground as well as branching behaviour of rhizomes of Miscanthus sinensis. 1. In each plot, the mean number of primary tillers from each overwintering culm was about 1.6-1.8. 2. In the U plot (unburned plot), the number of primary tillers which tillered from culms emerged from May to July was small. However, in the burned plots, the primary tillers from culms emerged from May to July increased considerably in number. 3. Even in the burned plots, the number of primary tillers from overwintering culms was almost the same as that of the U plot, but the tillering was hastened. 4. In the plots burned at a later date, the sprouting of secondary or tertiary tillers was accelerated since the emerging of primary tillers was hastened, and the entire number of tillers increased considerably. 5. In the U plot, the number of secondary tillers was about 1/3 of the total tiller number, and the tertiary tillers were found to be small in number. In the plots burned after late May, the number of secondary tillers amounted to about 46-47%, and the tertiary tillers, about 12-17%. Moreover, about 1% of quarternary tillers sprouted. 6. In the U plot, the elongation of tillers which sprouted in the same year was restricted. However, in the burned plots, the culms grew conspicuously in the same year of tillering, and this tendency was more remarkable in the plot burned at a later time.
