The Effect of Management and Competition on the Uptake of 32 Phosphorus by Ryegrass, Meadow Fescue and Their Natural Hybrid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Single representative plants of each of ryegrass, meadow fescue and a triploid hybrid between them were grown in small plots either alone or in competition under simulated "grazing" and "hay" managements. The extent of their root systems was assessed by injecting 32p to 10, 30 and 60 cm in separate plots and estimating the activity recovered in the top growth at 3 harvests. Root penetration was more rapid in plants receiving "hay" management and that ryegrass and meadow fescue developed their roots at 60 cm less rapidly when associated with the hybrid than when by themselves or with each other. The suppression of root growth in ryegrass and fescue by the hybrid accorded well with the previous evidence that their growth rates were lower than those of the hybrid in mid-summer particularly when pairs of species were grown together. The advantage of the hybrid under competition may be increased by its ability to exploit water and nutrients from the deeper regions of the soil.