Effects of Mowing on the Taraxacum officinale Plants in Mixed Planting withPaspalum dilatatum

Abstract

1) The aim of this study is to clarify the regeneration processes of plantsin mixed Taraxacum officinale-Paspalum dilatatum planted communities. Plants were repeatedly mowed at different time intervals (at every two (2W), Four (4W), eight (8W) and twenty-four (24W) weeks) and at different heights (0cm and 5 cm above ground).
(2) T. officinale and P. dilatatum have a similar regeneration behaivior. At first, the mowed plants regenarate the above ground photosynthetic organs using resources stored in root systems. The greater proprtion of photosynthesized substances appeared to be brought back into root systems. The proportion used for producing more leaves appeared to be smaller.
(3) The growth rates of above ground biomass of T. officinale in all treatments, except 2W-0cm treatment mowed at two weeks interval at 0 cm, nearly equaled that of control (24W-0cm or 24W-5cm). Most of plants in the 2W-0cm treatment were killed by the end of experiment. Even if T. officinale was covered by P. dilatatum, the Taraxacum plants were able to make photosynthesis in the densely crowded communities by erecting their root-leaves.
(4) The flowering of T. officinale received no harmful effects from periodically repeated mowing in mixed planting conditions. T. officinale continued to bloom for a long period even in 24W-5cm treatment.