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Changes in growth of two C 4 grasses ( Schizachyrium scoparium and Paspalum plicatulum ) in monoculture and mixture: influence of soil depth
Author(s) -
Van Auken O. W.,
Bush J. K.,
Diamond D. D.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1994.tb15403.x
Subject(s) - paspalum , monoculture , interspecific competition , competition (biology) , biology , agronomy , dry weight , botany , ecology
The growth of Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem) and Paspalum plicatulum Michx. (brownseed paspalum), two C 4 grasses, was examined in monoculture and in mixed culture in three soil depths. Effects of soil depth and competition were both significant. Growth of both species increased as soil depth increased from 30 to 180 cm in pot experiments. However, P. plicatulum dry mass increased approximately four times more than S. scoparium as soil depth increased. Schizachyrium scoparium dry mass was always greater in monoculture while P. plicatulum dry mass was always greater in mixture. Significant interspecific competition was not measured in the shallow soil treatment (30 cm) suggesting equal competition. Significant interspecific competition was measured in the deeper soil treatments (90 and 180 cm), and P. plicatulum dry mass was clearly greater in mixtures in the two deeper soils. Paspalum plicatulum does not appear to prevent the growth of S. scoparium roots in the deeper soil, but seems able to exploit deeper soil resources by proliferating roots at depths where S. scoparium roots do not seem capable of growth.