REGROWTH IN BARLEY (HORDEUM-VULGARE L) AND RYE (SECALE-CEREALE L)

Regrowth after cutting at four development stages, from heading to gra in maturity, was investigated in a pot experiment containing three rye and four barley varieties. Regrowth in the barley varieties decreased strongly from heading to grain maturity. Rye generally showed stronge r regrowth than barley after late cutting, but only the perennial vari ety 'Soperta' regenerated as many tillers at cutting as formed when ha rvested at the ripe grain stage. In both species, significant differen ces were found between varieties. The level of soluble carbohydrates r eached a maximum between heading and maturity, but differences in regr owth could not be explained by such differences. Total N decreased fro m heading to maturity, except for perennial rye, where an increase was observed towards ripening. It is, however, uncertain whether this was an effect rather than a cause of the regrowth.