Abstract
This study was carried out to make clear the relationship between cell wall content (CWC) and dry matter production of warm season grass. Coloured guineagrass (Panicum coloratum L.), Japanese barnyard millet (Echinochloa utilis OHWI et YABUNO), rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana KUNTH.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana GAERTN.) and corn (Zea mays L.) as a contrastive crop, were investigated in field conditions. CWC was estimated by neutral detergent method. The results obtained are summerized as follows ; 1. General logistic equations were applicable to explain increases of cell content (CC) in finger millet and corn, in the same way as dry weight (DM). There was no difference in asymptotic values (Y_<CC>) in the both species. 2. Although the difference between finger millet and corn was not detected on RGR_<CC> (relative growth rate of CC), CGR/CC (crop growth rate divided by mean CC) of corn was larger than that of finger millet. 3. CWC concentration was increased with time in the four warm season grass species, and closely linear correlations were observed between CWC concentration and dry weight. CWC concentration of coloured guineagrass and rhodesgrass was higher than those of finger millet and Japanese barnyard millet in the later growing period. This was mainly due to the increase of CWC concentration of stem. 4. It was estimated from these results mentiond above that CWC concentration was intensively related to the differences in dry matter production among the different warm season grass species.
