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Notes: Measurements of rates of growth and senescence of leaf lamina per tiller and of changes in tiller population densities were made in three experiments designed to investigate the influence of sward slate on leaf turnover and net production under continuous stocking.In each experiment initially uniform swards were fenced to provide four plots on which animal numbers were adjusted twice weekly to give a series of swards maintained as nearly as possible in a steady state with respect to sward surface height (range 1.1–6.4 cm) and herbage mass (range 440–2690 kg OM ha−1). Two experiments were carried out in July–September on vegetative swards and one in May–June on a reproductive sward. Measurements were begun 3–7 weeks after treatments were started and were repeated weekly during 3–4 week measurement periods.In all three experiments the rate of lamina growth per tiller increased linearly with an increase in sward surface height and herbage mass. In the two experiments conducted in July–August this relationship was partially offset by a linear increase in the rate of senescence per tiller but net production per tiller also increased linearly in relation to sward height and mass. In the experiment conducted in May–June the rates of growth and senescence per tiller increased in parallel so that net production per tiller showed no relationship with sward condition.Tiller population densities in the July–August experiments were highest in swards maintained between 2 and 3 cm surface height and declined in swards maintained above and below this height. In the experiment in May–June tiller numbers were similar in all treatments prior to the summer solstice but diverged in a manner similar to the other experiments later in the year.The rate of lamina growth per unit area increased in a manner consistent with an asymptotic relationship and the rate of senescence increased linearly with increasing sward height and mass in all three experiments. Net production per unit area was reduced on swards below about 2.5 cm in height but was insensitive to variation in sward surface height between 2.5 and 6.0 cm (approximately 1000–2500 kg OM ha−1 herbage mass).The effectiveness of adjustments in tiller numbers and production per tiller and of changes in the balance between growth and senescence as mechanisms of sward homeostatis, together with their implications in the scope for manipulating herbage production by grazing management are discussed briefly.

Notes: The effect of dalapon is described on pastures of Agrostis/Festuca, Festuca ovinal Deschampsia flexuosa and related Nardus- or Molinia-rich hill grasslands. The results are discussed in relation to the technique of surface sowing and the choice of vegetation types suitable for treatment.

Notes: An experiment was carried out in which simulated swards of ryegrass (cv. S23) were grown in boxes. In the first instance the swards were cut at weekly intervals to maintain five levels of leaf area index (LAI) from LAI 1 to 4–5 in simulation of continuous grazing. Measurements were made of growth, senescence and net growth rate and of net canopy photosynthesis at constant irradiance. The results showed that the swards adapted to the defoliation regimes mainly by changes in tiller population density and pseudostem length. When the swards had equilibrated to the cutting regime growth rate increased with LAI but, since tiller density and the partitioning of growth between herbage harvested and that lost by sensecence also changed with LAI, net growth rate was constant over the LAI range 2–4·5. Maximum weight of herbage harvested was obtained between LAI 2 and 3.After 10 weeks of weekly cutting all the swards were cut back to LAI 1 and allowed to regrow. Growth rate showed almost no response to the previous culling treatments. The relationship of net canopy photosynthesis to LAI was linear for the frequently defoliated swards and curvilinear for regrowing swards. The reasons for this difference were examined.

Notes: The relationship between net canopy photosynthesis (Pnc) measured at 400 J m−2 s-1 and leaf area index (LAI) was determined on ryegrass-dominant swards over a range of her bage masses in five grazing experiments. In three experiments the swards were continuously stocked either by sheep or by cattle to maintain a number of herbage heights and hence LAI values. In two experiments the swards were intermittently grazed with 21 -d regrowth intervals. On the continuously stocked swards measurements were made over nine periods each of 7 to 21 d in length. On the intermittently grazed swards measurements were made over six periods while the herbage was being grazed down from a high to a low LAI and over three periods during the regrowth phase.On all the swards where measurements were made while grazing was in progress, the relation of Pnc to LAI was linear. The photosynthetic rate was greater on the continuously grazed than on the intermittently grazed swards up to LAI 35 and in two experiments to LAI 5. The relationship of Pnc to LAI of swards in the regrowth phase was predominantly curvilinear and such that over much of the LAI range they had a greater photosynthetic potential than the same swards being grazed down from high to low mass. Daily rates of CO2 uptake and growth in the field were calculated for one continuously stocked experiment. Both were linearly related to LAI in the range LAI 2–4·5. The agronomic implications of the results are discussed.

Notes: An investigation of the carbon economy of single S184 white clover plants nodulated with an effective strain of Rhizobium trifolii growing on N-free nutrient solution and supplied with 150 parts/106 N as NH4NO3 has shown that 10% more of the C fixed per day is available for growth in the plants supplied with combined N. The difference between the two groups of plants is a result of higher respiratory activity in the roots of plants growing exclusively on N2. In terms of shoot growth, however, the difference in growth rate is likely to be less than 10%, because the rate of root growth is greater in the plants supplied with a moderate level of combined N. There is no evidence that NO-3 and CO2 compete for photosynthetically produced reductant in the leaves of plants grown on N2+NH4NO3, since no reduction in net photosynthesis was observed in plants assimilating combined N.An experiment carried out on detached leaflets of white clover grown on N2 and on N2+ NH4NO3 has shown that NO-3 -reducing activity is present in the leaflets of plants grown on N2+ NH4NO3 but not in plants grown on N2 and that the activity is light-dependent. Measurements of 14CO2 respired in the light and dark by leaflets previously allowed to photosynthesize 14CO2 showed that the ratio of 14CO2 output in the light to 14CO2 output in the dark was no higher in plants grown on N2+ NH4NO3 than in plants grown on N2. This observation is consistent with the finding that N source does not affect net photosynthesis in whole plants.