Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 October 2008
An experiment at the University of Queensland studied the response of Crotalaria juncea to a single cut above node 4 or 10 at 6, 8 or 10 weeks after planting under long or short (inductive) daylengths. Initial deleterious effects of cutting on plant parts were in the sequence nodules > roots > shoots. Subsequent greater regrowth from plants cut earliest and at the higher node was associated with higher residual leaf area and negative growth rates were inferred below 90 cm2 pot−1. Redistribution of assimilate from stem to leaf production followed cutting; in inductive daylengths of 11.4 hours, flowering was delayed and the proportion of leaf increased from 21.0 to 32.4%. The high nitrogen content of leaf (3.5–5.3%) compared to stem (0.6–1.7%) indicated that early cutting was important in producing good quality hay.