
%0 Journal Article
%A Christie, EK 
%T Physiological responses of semiarid grasses. III.* Growth in relation to temperature and soil water deficit
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1975/06/01
%V 26
%N 3
%P 447-457
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9750447
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9750447 
%X The optimum temperature for vegetative growth of mulga grass was about 25&deg;C, and for Mitchell and buffel grasses 30&deg;. Buffel grass had the highest yield at all temperatures, partly because of its higher growth rate which in turn can be ascribed to both a higher net assimilation rate and the diversion of a greater proportion of dry weight into leaf area. Seedlings with an ample supply of phosphate had higher relative growth rates than phosphorus-deficient seedlings at the commencement of the soil drying cycle, but their growth rates declined more rapidly as the soil water potential fell. This decline was associated with a reduction in the rate of phosphate absorption as well as a decrease in the tissue phosphorus concentration.  *Part II, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 26: 437 (1975). 
