Abstract
The objective of this study (which was carried out in a greenhouse) was to investigate the effects of cutting height on herbage production and regrowth dynamics of perennial ryegrass swards. All plots were randomly allocated to six treatments (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 cm cutting height and control) with 15 replicates (three per tray). All pots were cut twice weekly. Every four weeks from March 7 to July 15 all pots contained in one tray were withdrawn for destructive readings of tiller population density, tiller weight, leaf:stem ratio and leaf:non-leaf ratio. Treatments were analyzed in a completely randomized design with three replicates. A multiple regression analysis (stepwise) was also carried out. Cumulative herbage mass was higher at 9 and 12 cm cutting heights (P 0.05); stem, leaf and dead material and total tiller weight increased as cutting height decreased (P<0.05). The highest leaf:stem and leaf:non-leaf ratios were obtained at a 3 cm cutting height (P<0.05). Leaf growth, senescence and net leaf growth was highest at a 12 cm cutting height. The optimal combination of tiller population density and leaf production per tiller, which increased the weight of herbage harvested per time unit, was observed between 9 and 12 cm cutting height.
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