Document: CAN-3-99-158

Rooting of Eastern gamagrass.

WILLIAMS, C.O.* and E.RHODEN

Tuskegee University, Tuskegee Institute, AL 36088 USA ¹

Abstract:
Eastern gamagrass, Tripsacum dactyloides L., is a warm-season, perennial grass with significant forage potential. Eastern gamagrass has high potential productivity and moderate to high forage quality. There is considerable interest in its use as grazed and preserved forage. Eastern gamagrass is able to thrive even during droughts and prolonged floods. The roots are able to penetrate clay soil layers and go to deeper sections for soil water. The objective of this particular research is to look at the growth patterns of eastern gamagrass. Dry leaf weight and dry root weight were examined and the stem to root ratio was also examined. There were 12 plants that were grown over a period of 6 weeks. Every two weeks, two randomly-selected plants were harvested. The Duncans Multiple Comparison test was used at the 5% level. Plant height and dry root weight of gamagrass at 4 and 6 weeks did not differ significantly. There was also no significant difference in dry root weight between the 0 and 4 week harvests. Dry leaf weight did not differ significantly between 0 and 2 weeks or between 4 and 6 weeks.

Keywords: Tripsacum dactyloides,SEEDS

This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
WATER RELATIONS