ABSTRACT:
Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is commonly used as a conservation grass. It is able to withstand flooding and is somewhat drought tolerant. Plant species grown to control erosion at pumped storage reservoirs must withstand cyclic inundation, typically on a weekly basis. We subjected ‘common’ reed canarygrass to inundation lengths from zero to six days/week−1 with one day increments in tanks in the greenhouse in 1989 and 1990. Plant responses were measured by plant vigor, plant height, and tiller formation after each cycle. Inundation continued for nine cycles in 1989 and 10 cycles in 1990. The plants were allowed, to recover for four weeks following the final inundation cycle and total dry matter production above ground was determined. We assumed that the grass could sustain inundation of a particular length if plant vigor stabilized at a reasonable level, plant height did not decline drastically, and tiller formation continued. Reed canarygrass survived inundation of up to two days/week−1 and, in some situations, was able to survive a third day. Other factors such as depth of inundation and inundation at other growth stages, especially when dormant, need study before reed canarygrass is recommended for use in these reservoirs.
Footnotes
J. S. Rice is a professor and B. W. Pinkerton is an associate professor, Department of Agronomy and Soils, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634–0359. This article is published as Technical Contribution No. 3320 of the S.C. Agric. Exp. Stn., Clemson University.
- Copyright 1993 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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