Ranking of grass species according to visible wilting order and rate of recovery in the central Orange Free State.

Abstract

A number of grasses were ranked according to the order in which they wilted with diminishing moisture availability, and according to their ability to recover after water replenishment. Digitaria eriantha and Digitaria argyrograpta were the most sensitive to moisture stress, whereas Sporobolus fimbriatus and Panicum stapfianum were last to show signs of wilting. The latter two grass species were the first to recover from wilting during optimum soil water conditions. The leaf water potential and soil water content at which each grass species wilted were recorded.

Keywords: availability; digitaria argyrograpta; digitaria eriantha; grasses; leaf water potential; moisture stress; neutron probe; orange free state; panicum stapfianum; soil water; soil water content; soil water potential; south africa; sporobolus fimbriatus; stress; water use efficiency; wilting