Studies on the Performance of Alfalfa Swards : V. Relationships between top weight and carbohydrate root reserves of individual plants under sward conditions

Abstract

1. Behaviours of dead plants in alfalfa swards grown in a series of slot-like soil containers were observed in detail and levels of carbohydrate reserves in a root of dead plants were inferred. 2. Occurrences of dead plants in swards seemed to increase when swards received too frequent cutting or no cutting. 3. Most of the dead plants in swards with cutting treatments were the plants that could never start to regrow after cuttings. There were few plants that could start to regrow and died in process of growing. 4. Percentages of carbohydrate reserves in a root of individual plants seemed to rise sharply with increasing top weights to a maximum which was constant for all higher top weights. 5. Levels of carbohydrate reserves in a root of dead plants in swards with cutting treatments, as compared with those of the alive plants in the swards, were remarkably low at cutting time. Also in swards without cutting treatments, levels of carbohydrate reserves in a root of dead plants seemed remarkably low, as compared with those of the alive plants in the swards.