Physiological and Ecological Studies on Clipping of Herbage Plants. : III. Influence of clipping on the tiller number and regrowth of shoot in Italian ryegrass.

Abstract

The influence of clipping on the tiller number and regrowth of shoot in Italian ryegrass was investigated under two levels of height of cilpping. In the case of removal of shoot to a 2 cm height, i.e. growing points of shoots were mostly removed, the tillers markedly decreased in number for some time after clipping and then they increased rapidly in number, and were greater in number than those of control plot. In the case of removal of shoots to a 6 cm height, i.e. growing points of shoots were mostly maintained, the tiller increased slowly in number, and they were smaller in number than those of control plot. The half emerged or pre-emerged leaf blades from sheaths at the time of clipping showed remarkable elongation after the clipping, whereas the post-emerged leaf blade did not show any marked elongation after the defoliation.