EFFECTS OF CUTTING FREQUENCY AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON DRY MATTER YIELD OF REED CANARYGRASS (Phalaris arundinacea L.) IN UNCULTIVATED RICE PADDY

Dry matter yield of reed canarygrass was investigated in uncultivated rice paddy in Korea, and an attempt was made to estimate the most economic and efficient cutting frequency and rates of nitrogen (N) fertilization, for increased production of reed canarygrass. Total dry matter yields of reed canarygrass per year were 7.4-15.7, 8.5-16.1, and 7.5-13.4 tons/ha in 3, 4, and 5 cutting frequencies, respectively, and over the N treatments of 0-120 kg N/ha/cut. When cut 3 or 5 times annually, the 2nd cut produced the highest proportion of total yield at 38.4 and 33.0%, respectively, when cut 4 times the 3rd cut was highest (38.3%). The ranges of economic N level, limiting N level and efficiency of dry matter production were 243.3-293.0, 387.2, and 14.6 kg DM/kg N, respectively. These indicators were particularly low for the 5 cutting frequency possibly because of the unusually high temperature in the summer season. The best cutting frequency for the dry matter production of reed canarygrass in 1994 was 3 per year because of the higher efficiency of dry matter production.