Bahiagrass Tiller Dynamics in Response to Defoliation Management

Abstract

ABSTRACTNew bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) genotype PCA Cycle 4 is more productive than existing bahiagrass cultivars during the cool season, but it may not persist as well when defoliated frequently or to short stubble. Characterizing tiller dynamics forms a basis for understanding mechanisms of grass yield and persistence responses to defoliation. A 2‐yr field experiment studied the effects of two stubble heights (4 and 8 cm) and two harvest frequencies (7 and 21 d) on tiller dynamics of diploid (PCA Cycle 4, ‘Pensacola’, and ‘Tifton 9’) and tetraploid (‘Argentine’ and Tifton 7) bahiagrass. Tiller number of highly persistent Argentine and Pensacola was unaffected by defoliation treatment and generally greatest among cultivars. Tiller number of Tifton 9 and PCA Cycle 4 varied by up to 970 and 730 tillers m−2, respectively, among defoliation treatments and was greatest with frequent harvests at short stubble. PCA Cycle 4 tiller mass was relatively low. Net tiller appearance rate was positive in spring and early summer, and was nearly zero or negative throughout the remainder of the growing season. This study showed that Tifton 9 and PCA Cycle 4 responded to frequent, close defoliation by increasing tiller number, but tiller mass was the least or not different from the least among entries tested. Very small tillers may indicate a weakening stand under frequent, close defoliation, and management practices such as rotational stocking may be necessary for PCA Cycle 4 to persist.