Abstract
The first year growth of kudzu plants grown at 40, 80 and 120 cm spacings was compared. Dry weights of the plant tops, roots and litter and leaf area were measured 8 times at three week intervals during the period from July 17 to December 11. Growth parameters were calculated using only plant tops. Plants and litter were harvested at planting (PS) and interplant (IS) sites, using a 20 × 20 cm quadrat. Differences in top and root growth among spacings were small in IS throughout the growing season. In PS, however, there were significant differences in the seasonal trends of these dry weights among spacings. The greatest top and leaf dry weights, 475 g m^<-2> and 329 g m^<-2>, respectively, were obtained at 80 cm spacing. The highest value of maximum LAI was 5.2 at 40 cm spacing and maximum LAI was smaller at the wider spacings. Seasonal trends in RGR, NAR, CGR and RLGR were similar in all spacings of IS. In PS, significant differences existed between 120 cm spacing and the other two spacings in RGR, NAR and CGR. This result was attributed to the difference in stem dry matter accumulation. The highest maximum CGR, 6.2, was obtained at 80 cm spacing, with optimum LAI 2.9 and NAR 2.2.
