A factorial experiment with four frequencies (2, 4, 6 or 8?weekly) and five intensities (2, 5, 8, II and 14 cm height) of clipping was carried out on Anthephora pubescens in a pot soil culture. Response was measured in terms of total DM clipping yield, root production and top growth/root ratio.
Frequency and intensity both influenced clipping yield and root production and there was a significant interaction between them. The best results were obtained with a clipping height of 8 cm and frequency of six weeks. This corresponded to a late?leaf to early flowering (15% of plants) stage.
A quadratic tendency was observed over the levels of both frequency and intensity. The top growth/root ratio decreased significantly and linearly as frequency, but not intensity, decreased. This was an indication that roots and top growth were similarly effected by intensity, but that a high frequency resulted in a greater decrease in root than top growth.
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.