Establishment of <i>Cynodon dactylon</i> from stolon and rhizome fragments

Abstract

Summary A field survey and two field experiments were carried out to compare the performance of rhizomes and stolons of Cynodon dactylon , in terms of their sprouting efficiency and the dynamics and growth characteristics of the established ramets. The survey examined the relationships between morphological characteristics of above‐ and below‐ground structures of ramets naturally established from both types of fragments in a crop field. The first experiment compared the emergence and early growth of ramets from standardized stolon and rhizome fragments, grown under uniform field conditions without competition. It also comparatively analysed the predictive value of the maximum stolon length on dry matter partitioning. The second experiment investigated fragment type × size interactions on the establishment, dry matter accumulation and partitioning in stolon‐ and rhizome‐originated ramets. Results showed that under normal cropping conditions, more ramets can be originated from rhizome than from equivalent stolon fragments. Higher sprouting efficiency and dry matter partitioning to aerial structures, and a higher size dependence of the effective ramet recruitment were observed for stolon than for rhizome fragments. The observed differences between fragment type are dicussed in relation to their implications for predictions of weed emergence, and the efficacy of control strategies used under different cropping tillage systems.