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A STUDY OF THE GROWTH OF AGROPYRON REPENS (L) BEAUV. IN A RYEGRASS LEY
Author(s) -
CUSSANS G. W.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3180.1973.tb01276.x
Subject(s) - repens , agropyron , sowing , agronomy , perennial plant , biology , rhizome , plough , infestation , botany
Summary. In March 1969 Agropyron repens was planted into the seebded of a spring barley crop undersown with perennial ryegrass cv. S.24. Different fertilizer and cutting treatments were imposed throughout 1970 and 1971 and plots were assessed for A. repens growth at regular intervals up to September 1971. Until the end of June 1971 there was little difference in growth of A. repens under the different treatments, although there was so little growth during much of this period that a high proportion of the rhizome recovered was that produced in the late summer and autumn of 1969, before the ley had fully established. Between early July and mid September 1971 there was considerable rhizome growth on the plots receiving the least intensive cutting treatments, this being most marked at the high nitrogen level. The practical implications of these results for the arable part of a rotation are discussed and three main conclusions are suggested: (1) Regardless of management, a ley is not an effective means of reducing an infestation of A. repens ; (2) the sowing of a ley should be preceded by measures to reduce A. repens infestation. Growth of A. repens in the establishment year may be minimised by direct sowing of ryegrass, rather than undersowing; (3) the shallow growth habit of A. repens in a ley points to the need for cultivations as a complement, or as an alternative, to mouldboard ploughing, when the ley is broken. Elude de la croissance d 'Agropyron repens (L) Beauv. dans une culture de ray‐grass