Effect of tree density on competition between Leucaena leucocephala and Chloris gayana using a Nelder Wheel trial. II. Belowground interactions
A. Nahuel A. Pachas A E , H. Max Shelton A , Christopher J. Lambrides A , Scott A. Dalzell B , G. John Murtagh C and Craig M. Hardner D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Leucaena Research and Consulting Pty Ltd, 866 Rollands Plains Road, Ballengarra, NSW 2441, Australia.
C LanSci Management Pty Ltd, 117/326 Marine Parade, Labrador, Qld 4215, Australia.
D Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: a.pachas@uq.edu.au
Crop and Pasture Science 69(7) 733-744 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18040
Submitted: 6 February 2018 Accepted: 14 May 2018 Published: 20 June 2018
Abstract
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit subsp. glabrata (Rose) Zarate) in combination with grass pasture is one of the most persistent, productive and sustainable grazing systems used in Queensland, Australia. Nevertheless, a better understanding of the competitive interactions that determine the proportions of leucaena and grass components is needed to optimise the design and management of the hedgerow pasture system. In a water-limited environment, belowground interactions between species are especially influential. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of leucaena plant density and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) competition on root distribution, evapotranspiration, patterns of soil-water use and the resulting water-use efficiency (WUE) of the leucaena and grass components.
Results showed that although leucaena had deeper roots than Rhodes grass, the majority of fine roots of both leucaena and Rhodes grass were in the upper 1.5 m of the soil profile suggesting a high level of competition for water resources. A major factor favouring Rhodes grass was that its root abundance was 8–10 times greater than leucaena, allowing it to compete more effectively for water resources and limit the lateral spread of leucaena roots. Higher cumulative evapotranspiration values were recorded from leucaena grown with Rhodes grass than from leucaena grown in absence of grass. However, this difference was negligible at the highest leucaena density owing to the reduced yield of grass caused by shading and increased water uptake of leucaena. The findings of this study also confirmed the hypothesis that at low tree densities, leucaena–grass pasture will have higher WUE (13.8 kg DM mm–1) than sole leucaena, but this difference was reduced with increments of leucaena density. Highest WUE (65.9 kg DM mm–1) occurred at highest leucaena density with or without grass.
Additional keywords: agroforestry, below-ground competition, Chloris gayana, legume trees, water uptake.
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