Digltaria eriantha and Chloris gayana were grown under controlled conditions for three months and were treated with a nutrient solution containing 150 mMol NaCl and the following nitrogen sources: 25 or 200 mg/l NH4 +?N or NO3 −?N or no nitrogen. The application of nitrogen was found to stimulate growth, i.e. leaf area and dry mass in both grasses, with a greatest growth response to both NH4 +?N treatments in D. eriantha, and NH4 +?N and NO3 −?N treatments in C. gayana. Proline accumulated in both grasses, but this accumulation followed different trends in the two grasses. Soluble sugars (non?structural) accumulated in the above ground component in D. eriantha, while in C. gayana soluble sugars accumulated predominantly in the roots, possibly as osmotica, or for storage and may thus have been available for regrowth.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.