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Effects of Blade Removal and Nitrogen Level on Growth and Nitrate Content of Shoots of Reed Canarygrass 1
Author(s) -
Mittra M. K.,
Wright M. J.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1966.00021962005800020022x
Subject(s) - shoot , dry matter , nitrogen , nitrate , agronomy , leaf blade , chemistry , horticulture , acre , sowing , zoology , biology , botany , organic chemistry
The work reported here considered effect of blade‐by‐blade defoliation and different levels of N nutrition on dry matter yield of individual shoots of canarygrass, accumulation of carbohydrate reserves in the underground organs, and nitrate content. Seven defoliation treatments were included at each level of nitrogen. These were: control, no blades removed (7‐8 blades); T‐3, To4, and T‐5 with 3, 4, or 5 top blades maintained, and B‐3, B‐4, and B‐5, with 3, 4, or 5 basal blades maintained. Nitrogen levels used were: 0, 10, or 30 ppm in sand culture experiments; and 0, 10, 25, 50, or 75 pounds per acre in experiments where soil medium was used. Top blades were more effective in supporting growth than were basal blades, confirming results of previous experiments. The nitrogen levels appeared to modify both the dry matter yields and the amount of recovery growth produced in the dark from the underground organs, when plants were grown in sand culture, and nitrate concentration decreased with an increase in the number of blades retained per shoot, the highest accumulation occurring when the smallest number of basal blades were maintained. There was an inverse relationship between total available carbohydrates and the concentration of nitrate in the aerial shoots.