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Title: IMPACT OF GROWING CONDITIONS ON TILLER DEVELOPMENT OF TWO WARM-SEASON GRASSES IN SOUTHERN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE (OKLAHOMA)

Author
item Northup, Brian

Submitted to: Proceedings Southwestern Association of Naturalists Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: NORTHUP, B.K. IMPACT OF GROWING CONDITIONS ON TILLER DEVELOPMENT OF TWO WARM-SEASON GRASSES IN SOUTHERN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE (OKLAHOMA). PROCEEDINGS SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION OF NATURALISTS ANNUAL MEETING. 2001. p. 742-744.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only.

Technical Abstract: Growing conditions have significant impacts on the morphological development of grass tillers. Tiller development affects community productivity, and is critical to management decisions for tallgrass prairie. A multi-year study was undertaken to examine the effects of time of growing season and soil moisture on tiller growth stages and tiller mass sof big bluestem {Andropogon gerardii} and little bluestem {Schizachyrium scoparium} on a southern tallgrass prairie site in central Oklahoma during March-September 2000. Data were analyzed by regression procedures with length of season (Julian date) and soil moisture the independent variables, and tiller growth stage and mass the dependent variables. Strong (r^2^ > 0.90; P < 0.01) non-linear relationships existed between both growth stage and tiller mass with Julian date, but no relationships (r^2^ < 0.10) were noted with soil moisture. Results highlight the importance of energy input tduring the growing season to tiller development.