Use of water by six grass species. 2. Root distribution and use of soil water

Abstract

SUMMARY: The use of soil water by six grasses (perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy, rough stalked meadow grass (RSMG), tall fescue and Italian ryegrass) was measured over 2 years. The swards were cut either at 3-week (C₃) or 6-week (C₆) intervals. In both years the maximum soil water deficit attained under C₆was greater than under C₃. Following several of the cuts from C₆there was a marked, although temporary, reduction in the rate of water uptake.An extended dry period in the second harvest year revealed substantial differences in the total water used and in the patterns of uptake from the soil profile by the grasses. Effective depths of utilization of water under treatment C₆were: RSMG, 40 cm; timothy, 70 cm; cocksfoot, 70 cm; perennial ryegrass, 80 cm; tall fescue > 100 cm. This order of depth of utilization corresponded with the order of yields obtained during drought conditions. An examination of the root systems of four grasses also showed that, particularly under treatment C₆, roots of tall fescue were more numerous at depth than those of timothy, cocksfoot or perennial ryegrass, and under this treatment it showed its greatest tolerance to dry conditions. Drought tolerance in these grasses appears largely determined by the volume of soil exploited by the roots for water.