SPRING AND SUMMER ROOT GROWTH OF SOME TEMPERATE–REGION GRASSES AND SUMMER ROOT GROWTH OF TROPICAL GRASSES

The root growth of 3 temperate–region grasses (perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, and cocksfoot) and of 3 tropical grasses (Dallis grass, Bahia grass, and Rhodes grass) was investigated in large glass–sided root–boxes. The trend of root numbers and the rate of elongation of roots were ascertained to discover how the Japanese climate affected the root growth of these species.
All the temperate–region grasses produced new roots vigorously during spring, but root growth ceased in August, whereas the roots of tropical grasses grew rapidly in this month. The alternate use of these two types of grasses during the growing season may therefore be worthwhile in Japan