Leaf strength studies of pasture grasses: I. Apparatus, techniques and some factors affecting leaf strength

Leaf tensile-strength measurements have been made at Grasslands Division, D.S.I.R., over several years on a number of pasture grasses (Evans, 1964; Wilson, 1965). These measurements were prompted by the work of Beaumont, Stitt & Snell (1933) and Kneebone (1961), who attempted to relate leaf tensile strength to animal production value, and Edmond (1960, 1964), who considered that the toughness of pasture species may be a factor determining their tolerance to animal treading. The following is a description of the apparatus developed for this work and of the techniques employed.