The effect of height of water table on the growth of Holcus lanatus with reference to Lolium perenne.
Abstract
Plants of Holcus lanatus and Lolium perenne were grown in monoculture and in a 50:50 mixture in free-draining conditions and with the water table at 5, 11 or 21 cm below the soil surface. The shoot dry wt and nitrogen content of both species declined similarly with increasing height of water table in monoculture and mixture. However, only H. lanatus responded to the high water table by producing large numbers of nodal roots and fine surface roots which may enable it to survive better in such conditions. From summary.