Water-Soluble Carbohydrate Recovery in Pastures of Perennial Ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and Pasture Brome ( Bromus valdivianus Phil.) Under Two Defoliation Frequencies Determined by Thermal Time

Iván Calvache, Oscar Balocchi, Máximo Alonso, Juan Pablo Keim and Ignacio López
Additional contact information
Iván Calvache: Animal Production Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Austral University of Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
Oscar Balocchi: Animal Production Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Austral University of Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
Máximo Alonso: Animal Production Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Austral University of Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
Juan Pablo Keim: Animal Production Institute, Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Austral University of Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
Ignacio López: School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: The objectives of the experiment were to (i) examine the dynamics of WSC use and the recovery of leaf sheaths and blades of Bromus valdivianus Phil. and Lolium perenne L. subjected to two defoliation frequencies (DFs) determined by thermal time (TT); (ii) evaluate how DF influenced regrowth and accumulated herbage mass (AHM) during fall. Defoliation was carried out at frequencies of 135 and 270 accumulated growing degree days (AGDDs) for both species. Twelve plots were arranged in a three-block design. All plots had a conditioning period to establish the assigned DF prior to sampling. From the start of the experiment, “cores” were collected from each plot every three days until the DF was reached. Every core was separated into leaf and sheath material before measuring the WSC concentration. Lolium perenne had concentrated more WSCs than B. valdivianus . Both species adapted their WSC recovery according to the DF. The recovery of WSC was faster under a DF of 135 AGDDs than that of 270 AGDDs. Leaf sheaths contained more WSCs than leaf blades and were identified as WSC storage organs. This period can be used as the optimal defoliation interval in B. valdivianus and L. perenne grazing systems.

Keywords: accumulate growing degree days; phyllochron; grass regrowth; leaf sheaths; blades (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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