The effect of plant size and developmental stage on summer survival of some perennial grasses

Observations on summer survival in sown swards of a number of cultivars of Phalaris tuberosa L., P. coerulescens L., Dactylis glomerata L., and Hordeum bulbosum L. were made at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in two consecutive years with widely different rainfall patterns. In both years survival was higher among reproductive plants than among vegetative plants, and in both types of plants the largest individuals had the highest survival rates. In the abnormally dry year 1965 only a number of cultivars of cocksfoot had adequate survival rates. Some agronomic practices aimed at maximum survival over the first summer are discussed.