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The effect of ground water-level upon productivity and composition of fenland grass (II)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. H. Nicholson ,
D. H. Firth ,
A. Eden ,
G. Alderman ,
C. J. L. Baker  and
M. Heimberg
H. H. Nicholson
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Cambridge
D. H. Firth
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Cambridge
A. Eden
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Service, Anstey Hall, Trumpington, Cambridge
G. Alderman
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Service, Anstey Hall, Trumpington, Cambridge
C. J. L. Baker
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Service, Anstey Hall, Trumpington, Cambridge
M. Heimberg
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Service, Anstey Hall, Trumpington, Cambridge
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Extract

1. Further studies were carried out during 1950 on the effects of different ground water-levels upon the productivity and composition of Italian ryegrass grown on a calcareous light peat soil. The season was an unusually wet one, in contrast with the dry season experienced in 1949.

2. Seven successive cuts were taken during the season from each of two crops of ryegrass, one following a crop of marrow-stem kale, and the other a crop of celery. Different amounts of a general compound fertilizer had been applied.

3. Generally, the findings confirmed those of the previous year's investigation. High ground waterlevel (approximately 18 in. below ground surface) had a deleterious effect upon the yield and quality of ryegrass as reflected by its protein content, compared with the medium and low water-levels (23 and 30 in. below ground surface, respectively).

4. The high water-level also had a depressing effect upon the percentage of potassium and magnesium in the grass, but had no consistent effect upon calcium and phosphorus. The silica content rose steadily in all cases as the season advanced, as occurred in the previous year.

5. Residual manuring effects were well marked in the crop following celery. The total yields of dry matter from the medium and low water-levels considerably exceeded those of similar plots following kale, and the protein contents were also appreciably higher. This demonstrates the advantages of a high soil nutrient status, under conditions of suitable water-levels, for a crop of fenland grass.

6. A high water-level inhibited growth and quality, irrespective of the nutrient status of the soil.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , July 1953 , pp. 265 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1953

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References

REFERENCES

Eden, A., Alderman, G., Baker, C. J. L., Nicholson, H. H. & Firth, D. H. (1951). J. Agric. Sci. 41, 191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, H. H., Alderman, G. & Firth, D. H. (1951). J. Agric. Sci. 41, 149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar