Ontogeny of Sporobolus fimbriatus tillers in the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape.

Abstract

Reports the results of an investigation conducted, at tiller level, to study the ontogeny of Sporobolus fimbriatus in an unutilized situation, both under normal rainfall conditions and under irrigation; Marked populations of Sporobolus fimbriatus tillers were sequentially sampled at fortnightly intervals under normal rainfall conditions and under irrigation respectively, covering a period from tiller initiation through to senescence after flowering. Parameters recorded included shoot apex elevation, tiller mass and leaf development. Surviving tillers consisted of two sub-populations, those that flowered in autumn and those that remained vegetative. Flowering of individual apices was rapid, but was spread over a number of months for the whole population. Moisture played an important role in determining tiller size, and at least some forage was lost through leaf drop on tillers rested for a whole season.

Keywords: Eastern Cape; False Thornveld; flowering; Irrigation; leaf development; Leaves; Ontogeny; Rainfall; senescence; Shoot apex; south africa; Sporobolus fimbriatus; Stems; tiller mass; Tillers

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.