Summary Controlled climate techniques were used to examine the effects of representative winter temperatures on the growth of plants of some important New Zealand pasture species. Growth of plants in climate cabinets was followed in all combinations of three day temperatures—60°F, 52.5°F, and 45°F, and three night temperatures—45°F, 40°F, and 35°F. The plants received 12 h of light per day at an intensity of approximately 2,700 ft candles and with a spectral composition similar to daylight. Lower day temperatures gave a much greater relative reduction in growth of individual tillers than did lower night temperatures. In contrast a lowering of day temperatures had a relatively small influence on the rate of tillering of most species but in some cases lower night temperatures resulted in substantially higher rates of tillering.
展开▼
