
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Murtagh, GJ 
T1  - Factors affecting the growth of kikuyu. I. Potential growth and nitrogen supply
JF  - Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
JO  - Aust. J.  Agric. Res.
Y1  - 1988
VL  - 39
IS  - 1
SP  - 31
EP  - 42
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9880031 
N2  - The potential growth of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) with ample supplies of water and fertilizer, and the effect of varying nitrogen supply, were estimated from field measurements of growth rate. A model, incorporating the effects of light interception, temperature and nitrogen supply, was used to account for variation in canopy development and temperature under field conditions. The model predicted a peak growth rate of 234 kg DM ha-1 day-1 by a well-fertilized kikuyu sward with a yield of 3590 kg DM ha-1 (LAI = 5.4), and grown at maximum/minimum temperatures of 32.0/23.9¦C. Growth was not limited by the nitrogen supply, provided that the nitrogen concentration of recently grown foliage exceeded 3.5%. However, at lower concentrations, assimilation (net growth plus an allowance for maintenance respiration) declined by 36% per unit decline in nitrogen concentration. 
ER  -

