1994 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 215-225
Two sets of experiments in summer and winter were conducted to clarify the effect of air-pruning on turf (Agrostis stolonifearL. cv. Pencross) sod culture.
For shoot growth, there was no significant differences in germination rate, on the other hand, it was clear that conventional nusery produced a faster germination speed than air-pruning nursery. In winter, conventional nursery resulted in a better shoot growth with 1.4-2.0 times more than air-pruning, but in summer, the differences in shoot growth was not significant between two nursery methods.
For the root growth, severl advantages of air-pruning nursery, such as eliminating roottangling or root-binding, promoting properly oriented root-branching and better root growth after transplanting were demonstrated in this study.
During turf seedling culture period, the maximum root lengths for air-pruning nursery were much shorter than conventional nursery both in winter and in summer. However, the root number for one plant of air-pruning nursery was 1.4-1.6 times more than that of conventional nursery. Also root-tangling or root-binding at tray bottom were not observed.
The air-pruned seedling kept a greater root number continuously, and its maximum root length got longer than the conventional nursery seedling in six months after transplanting. This result implied that the air-pruned seedling's roots grow faster, and this point is one of the most important factors for producing turf.
