Response of Matua prairie grass and Ellett perennial ryegrass to excess soil moisture in sand, silt and clay soils

Abstract

The response of 'Grasslands Mama' prairie grass to waterlogging on different soil types was determined and compared with that of Ellett perennial ryegrass in a glasshouse pot trial at Massey University. During the waterlogging, rate of leaf extension (mm/tiller/day) of Matna prairie grass plants decreased, senescence rate (mm/tiller/day) increased, shoot:root ratio increased, and percentage of total plant weight as dead material increased, compared with unwaterlogged plants. These responses were more extreme on a clay soil than a sand, and a long rather than a short soak treatment, and generally disappeared on removal of the waterlogging stress. Shoot:root ratio of ryegrass decreased in response to waterlogging, but changes in components of plant dry weight were minor compared with those of Matna prairie grass. Matna is more sensitive to waterlogging than Ellett ryegrass, and Matna must be sown in the correct environment for it to persist and perform. Keywords Matua prairie grass, Ellett ryegrass, waterlogging, soil oxygen, shoot:root ratio, leaf elongation, leaf senescence