The property of dry matter production was compared among each seven clonal line which had different specific leaf weight (SLW) in the two varieties, Kitamidori and Latar. The planting density was 45cm×20cm. Sampling was done three times before 1st cutting. The results were summerized as follows: 1. Remarkable difference was found between varieties in leaf length, and also there was difference in leaf area. Latar had usually higher leaf area than that of Kitamidori. Kitamidori showed higher SLW than Latar at the early stage of growth, but there was no varietal difference at the late stage of growth. Thus it was assumed that Latar had higher dry matter yield than that of Kitamidori (Table 1). 2. The dry matter yield correlated with leaf area, but this correlation was decreased following the growth. Between the dry matter yield and SLW, there was negative significant correlation at the early stage of growth, but there wasn't significant correlation at the late stage of growth. Small SLW and large leaf area at the early stage of growth, but large SLW at the late stage of growth would be favorable for the dry matter production (Fig.1, Table 2). 3. The dry matter yield indicated negative correlation with the number of tillers, but positive correlation with the weight of a tiller. But there was positive correlation between the dry matter yield and the number of heading tillers. The large tiller weight and the many heading tiller numbers should contribute to higher dry matter production. The dry matter yield also correlated with some characters relating the light distribution within canopy as leaf length (Table 3).

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In the previous papers, the relationship between yield and yield components of orchardgrass under individual plant basis was investigated. In the present paper, the relationship between yield components, vertical distribution of leaf area, light extinction coefficient and some morphological characters were analyzed in sward condition. The varieties examined were Pennlate, Latar, Hokkai-1, Potomac, Chinook, Kitamidori, Daprime, S 143, Apanui and Frode. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The dry matter weight was always correlated with leaf area index (LAI), but this correlation was decreased following the growth. Between the dry matter weight and specific leaf weight (SLW), there was negative significant correlation at the early stage of growth, but there was positive significant correlation at the late stage of growth. These results indicated that LAI mainly influenced on the dry matter production at the early stage of growth, but SLW became to have more influence on the dry matter production at the late stage of growth (Fig.1). 2. The dry matter weight always indicated highly significant correlation with the dry weight of a tiller. Between the dry matter weight and the number of tillers, there was positive correlation at the early stage of growth, but there was negative correlation at the late stage of growth (Fig.2). 3. There were the varietal differences among the regression coefficient between LAI and relative light intensity at the ground level at each sampling time (Fig.3). This regression coefficient (light diminution coefficient, K') indicated negative highly significant correlation with the dry matter weight. It was confirmed that the light diminution pattern following the growth should contribute to the dry matter production (Table 2). 4. There were the varietal differences among vertical distribution of leaf area index, light extinction coefficient (K) and leaf area index above the layer indicating the highest leaf area density within the canopy (effective leaf area index, ELAI). These differences had close relations with the dry matter production. ELAI almost corresponded with the LAI absorbing 95% of the incoming light within canopy, and was limited by K. Thus, it became clear that the varietal differences of dry matter production was depending on the differences of ELAI (Fig.5, Fig.6, and Fig.7). 5. K was mainly determined by leaf angle, flag leaf length/3rd leaf length and 2nd leaf length/3rd leaf length. The variety with erect leaf, small flag leaf and small 2nd leaf comparing 3rd leaf, had small K and high dry matter production. Leaf breadth and leaf rigidity index did not have any influence on K and dry matter production (Table 3). 6. Light diminution coefficient (K') indicated highly significant correlation with light extinction coefficient (K).

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The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of nitrogen application on the yield components of orchardgrass. The varieties examined were Latar (tiller weight type), Kitamidori (medium type) and S 143 (tiller number type). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 4 levels, 0 (N_0), 7.5 (N_1), 15 (N_2) and 30 (N_3) N kg/10a, respectively. Data were taken at 3 stages, namely, 2 weeks before heading (T_1), at heading stage (T_2) and 1 week after heading (T_3), respectively. Results were summalized as follows ; 1. Dry matter weight of Latar and Kitamidori reached the maximum at N_2 level, but that of S 143 was increased up to N_3 level (Fig.1). 2. N application influenced on the number of tillers at each growth stage, but on the weight of a tiller only at T_2 and T_3 (Fig.2). Dry matter weight indicated significant correlation with the weight of a tiller, but not correlated with the number of tillers under the condition including varieties and N levels (Fig.3). N arreication didn't influence on the plant type index (Fig.4). 3. Leaf area index (LAI) was increased almost linearly up to N_2 level, but not at N_3 level. Dry matter weight/leaf area index (DW/LAI) was not affected by N application at T_1, but it was increased by N application at T_2 and T_3 (Fig.5). Dry matter weight indicated significant positive correlation with LAI at each stage of growth, but with DW/LAI only at T_3 (Fig.6). 4. N concentration of stem and leaf blade was increased by N application. Further, N concentration of S 143 was lower than that of other varieties at each N levels (Fig.7). 5. N application influenced more on mean leaf area index (MLAI) than on net assimilation rate (NAR) (Fig.8). Crop growth rate (CGR) indicated significant positive correlation with MLAI and NAR at the ealry stage of growth (T_1-T_2), but with only NAR at the late stage of growth (T_2-T_3) (Table 1). 6. Vertical distribution of leaf area wasn't influenced so strongly by N application. However, extinction coefficient became to decrease under higher N levels (Fig.9). And there was highly significant negative correlation between dry matter weight and extinction coefficient (Fig.10). 7. N concentration of leaf blade indicated significant correlation with some morphological characters. Further, the plants had larger tillers and more erect leaves under higher N levels (Table 2).

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Three experiments were conducted with seedlings of Lolium multiflorum (mammoth, 4n) grown in 1/5000 a pots filled with the mixture of vermiculite, sand and clay soil with the ratio of 2, 2 and 1 in bulk followed by fertilizer application 10g/m^2 each of N, P_2O_5 and K_2O as base, to confirm the timelife of roots during establishment and to find the contribution of seminal roots for early growth. 1. Seedlings were sampled every fortnights for spring-sown experiments and every eighth day for autumn-sown samples. Roots were graded into three categories according to visual observations with respect to their morphological development and appearance of senescence. New roots were enamelled at their bases every eighth day with different colours to visualize their history. 2. Effects of fertilizer application to seminal roots and/or nodal roots were compared upon the seedling growth. 3. Either of the roots were pruned from their emergence in one experiment and in another experiment seminal roots were pruned from the date of root emergence until the eleventh day by two-day intervals to confirm whether these treatments give any harmful effects on early growth. It was found that both roots proceed to grow until five weeks after emergence and will stop growing during next one or two weeks. They seemed to begin to decay around that date at their tips. Roots of spring-sown grasses seemed to have a shorter life than those of autumn-sown grasses. Seminal roots will continue to grow and work until seventh week after seeding far beyond the weaning stage. It plays an important role in absorption and anchoring particularly until two weeks after seeding.

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A field experiment was conducted in Fukuoka, Japan for evaluating effects of plant top and root competition on DM yield, N yield, and N_2-fixation. There were seven treatments replicated three times: three mono-croppings of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, TVu 4557), tall corn (Zea mays, Koh-1), and dwarf corn (TX-74) and four cowpea/corn inter-croppings of two levels of plant top competition×two levels of plant root competition. Inter-cropping cowpea with tall corn or with dwarf corn facilitated two levels of plant top competition. Burying wooden partitions in between rows of corn and cowpea or at right angle with these rows facilitated two levels of plant root competition. Results obtained were as follows: 1) When compared with other coppings, the tall crorn/cowpea inter-cropping created favourable canopy structure for increasing DM yield, showing even vertical distribution of leaves throughout the canopy. 2) Dry matter yield was higher in the tall corn/cowpea intercropping, followed by the dwarf corn/cowpea inter-cropping, showing relative yield totals of 132 and 124, respectively. Root competition created favourable effects on increasing DM production in the tall corn/cowpea but not in the dwarf corn/cowpea intercropping. 3) Nodule formation and N_2-fixation changed significantly with combinations of cowpea and corn. Among the factors comprising N_2-fixation (C_2H_2 reduction), nodule number and nodule weight decreased as light environments on cowpea become worse while specific nodule activity increased. N_2-fixation decreased with root competition in the tall corn/cowpea but not in the dwarf corn/cowpea inter-cropping. 4) Nitrogen yield in the inter-croppings were higher than in the corn mono-croppings and lower than in the cowpea monocropping, showing lower relative yield totals. Relative yield totals of N were reduced with root competition. With the results obtained above, discussion was directed towards depicting the mechanisms in which higher DM yield was obtained in the tall corn/cowpea inter-cropping when root competition existed. A conclusion of this experiment is that plant top competition for light is functioning more significantly in determining DM yield than the competition for soil nutrients. Finally, a suggestion was made for the ideal types which maximize productivity in the corn/cowpea inter-cropping, viz., tall stem with leaves on the top layer for corn and no-climbing type for cowpea.

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Effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on the induction of sucrose and fructosan hydrolyzing activities (SHA and FHA) in the haplocorm of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) after cutting was examined. ABA (10μl of 0.75mM per plant) was applied on the cutting surface of the stem. Total SHA increased in the non-treated haplocorm, but not in the treated one. Total FHA appeared first in both of the non-treated and treated haplocorms after 10 days, the increasing rate being almost the same between them. SHA was separated into 5 fractions (A, B, C, D and E) by DEAE Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. SHA increased in all fractions excluding E in the non-treated haplocorm at 4th day, while only in A and C fractions in the treated one. The differences were also observed between the protein concentrations in the non-treated and treated haplocorms in each fraction. The development of new shoots from the haplocorm was retarded by ABA treatment.

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To elucidate the effect of photosynthate on the carbohydrate metabolism in the haplocorm of timothy (Phleum pratense L.), the changes in sucrose and fructosan hydrolyzing activities (SHA and FHA) in the haplocorm were examined under shading and non-shading conditions. The mean fresh weight of a haplocorm was almost constant throughout the experimental period irrespective of light conditions. The total SHA kept almost unchanged under non-shading condition, but was reduced to about half after 5 days, and then increased twice as much as the initial level after 12 days under shading condition. The total FHA did not vary with light conditions. SHA and FHA were separated into five (S-1 to S-5) and two (F-1 and F-2) fractions, respectively, by DEAE Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. Each fraction showing SHA did not almost fluctuate under non-shading condition. By contrast, S-3, S-4, and S-5 decreased after 5 days and then S-2 and S-3 increased about twice as much as the initial level after 12 days under shading condition. F-1 and F-2 were almost constant irrespective of shading and non-shading conditions. Fructosan content in the haplocorm was slightly decreased by shading treatment. Considering the results obtained in the present and previous studies, it is concluded that the lack of photosynthate supply from the upper organs is not a main factor for the induction of SHA and FHA in the haplocorm after cutting.

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The purpose of this investigation is to examine the effect of crude ettringite (CET) on the growth and the nitrogen fixation of ladino clover, red clover and alfalfa. CET was synthesized from blastfurnace slag and gypsum produced in the process of desulfurization at electric power station, and it contained about 60% of ettringite and some other compounds. In this experiment, leguminous forages were sown in 1/2000 are wagner pot containing 15kg of acidic mineral soil of which pH was adjusted at 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 with CET or calcium hydroxide. The culture was carried out in a non-heating glasshouse from Sept. 12, 1977 to May 10, 1978. The cutting of plant top was made three times (Jan. 21, Apr. 15 and May 10, 1978) and the growth of forages were compared with one another. Besides, potassium uptake and nitrogen fixing capacity by leguminous forages were measured. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The neutralizing capacity of CET was less than that of calcium hydroxide, while the values of initial soil pH adjusted by CET were almost constantly maintained through the experimental period. 2. The growth of leguminous forages was remarkably affected by soil pH and was considerably improved by the application of CET compared with that of calcium hydroxide. The species were ranked as follows according to the effectiveness of CET: alfalfa>red clover>ladino clover. Moreover, its effectiveness seemed to be enhanced with proceeding of cutting. 3. Although the potassiun uptake by leguminous forages increased with the application of CET, it was not recognized in this experiment that the effect of CET on the growth was due to the increase of potassium uptake by the leguminous forages. 4. The application of CET resulted in the increase of nitrogen fixing capacity per plant by improving the nodule formation and nitrogen fixing capacity per unit weight of nodules. 5. It was assumed from this investigation that CET is much more beneficial material for neutralizing soil acidity than calcium hydroxide in the cultivation of leguminous forages.

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Fall-sown cereal crops; six-row barley, two-row barley, naked barley, wheat, oat and rye, were cultivated for silage. One cultivar was used for each crop. These crops were sown on the same date, and were harvested at seven stages successively during April and May. Heading occured in the order mentioned above. Dry matter yields (DM) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) in vitro were measured. (1) On the same harvesting day, early-heading crops were superior in DM yield to late-heading crops. (2) Before heading, DMD of leaf and stem was 80-90% and just before heading it began to decrease. DMD of leaf decreased to 70-60% and that of stem did to 50-40%. DMD of ear increased to 90%. Total DMD decreased towards heading, but slightly increased. thereafter. Total DMD of crops was influenced by the proportion of DM weight of leaf, stem and ear to total DM weight and DMD of these organs. On the early harvesting day, the late-heading crops were higher in DMD than early-heading crops and on the late harvesting day the early-heading crops were higher in DMD than late-heading crops. (3) On the same harvesting day, early-heading crops were superior in digestible dry matter (DDM) yield to late-heading crops. Because DDM yield is the product of DM yield and DMD, it can be influenced by both the factors, and so were data in this experiment. For example, 'Wasebozu', six-row barley, was higher in DM yield than 'Kikaihadaka', naked barley, and in DMD the former was lower than the latter. In DDM at seven harvestings, the yields of them were as follows. They were of even yield in one harvesting and the former was of higher yield in two harvestings and the latter was of higher yield in four harvestings. In heading date there was little difference between them, and they were also alike in the progress of maturity of their ears after heading.

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Feed samples have been extracted by two digestion methods in order to prepare cell wall materials with low nitrogen contents. Two digestion methods involved extraction with neutral detergent and pronase. Furthermore the pretreatment method for removal of starch from feed samples was investigated with using α-amylase. Feed samples using in this experiment were as follows ; rice straw, orchardgrass, alfalfa, soybean meal, corn grain, wheat bran, defatted rice bran and corn silage. Pronase digestion showed higher rates of removal of total crude protein than that of neutral detergent digestion.

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Out of Holstein heifers entrusted to Yamaguchi Prefectural Raising Farm, 579 heifers that had been nursed and were transferred to the raising and management farm were used to analyse changes in body weight with time so as to determine the effects of the month of transfer to the raising farm on their growth. (1) Although the weight at 7 months of age, immediately before the transfer to raising farm, showed no significant difference by the month of transfer, the weight at 20 months of age showed significant difference (P<0.01). In other words, the growth during the raising period was observed to vary depending upon the month of transfer. (2) The months of transfer were classified into the following 3 seasonal patterns according to the difference in growth. Spring-Summer pattern (SS) Transferred in May, June, July and August. Spring-Autumm Pattern (SA) Transferred in April, September and October. Winter-Spring Pattern (WS) Transferred in January, February, March, November and December. (3) The weight gains during the investigation period showed significant differeces (P<0.05) among 3 seasonal patterns with SS showing the greatest gain followed by SA and WS. The factors influencing the development of seasonal patterns most were the season and the age thereat. The heifers being at higher ages (month) in spring (April and May) were found to show greater growth. The age, however, was found to give little influence on the seasonal patterns stages of 7 to 20 months. (4) The greater growth of SS was found to be attributable to compensatory growth, i.e., faster growth after wintering at the beginning of the second grazing season.

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To determine the effect of temperature changes with seasonal progress on the growth and development of dallisgrass, setaria and green panic, the experiment was conducted under the rising temperature regime (moving the plants from 15 to 25℃) or the falling temperature regime (from 25 to 15℃) in the natural and artificial light (long-day) condition. The rising temperature regime: The increased stem numbers and/or the higher distribution of dry matter to root delayed the increase in total dry matter and the advance in growth stage in the initial low temperature period. At the successive high temperature period, however, such growth responses took a turn favorable to the growth and development. The falling temperature regime: Leaf production which was accelerated by the initial high temperature ceased at the following low temperaure period, but the advance in growth stage and the increase in dry matter distribution to stem continued. For dallisgrass, the greater accumulation of total nonstructural carbohydrates was found in the stem part, while dry matter distribution to it was not so much.

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