GRASS GROWTH AND REGROWTH AND

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT

Source: http://wsare.usu.edu/
• Grasses are different from many common plants
because they have a variety of growing points
(meristems). These permit multiple harvests within a
season if the growing points are not destroyed by
defoliation during critical periods.
• Grasses perform better and have higher yields and
better quality when they are properly utilized by grazing
or cutting at the optimal time.
 Plant development phase

Source: http://wsare.usu.edu/
• Once a bud has initiated the growth of a new tiller, there are only four
microscopic growing points on that tiller that can produce new cells for
plant growth.

Growing points (meristem)

o Apical meristems: in the apical dome,
allow a grass plant to grow to maturity.
During vegetative growth, this tissue
remains low but is elevated as the plant
prepares for reproduction.
o Intercalary meristems: initially in the
primordium and later at the blade base -
allow leaf formation and expansion. Basal bud
o Basal buds: basal ( in the crown) and
adventitious buds develop new grass rhizomes
plants but need time to develop.
o Rhizomes, stolons: lateral tillers that can
produce daughter plants in some grass
species.

A vegetative grass tiller.
Leaf 1 is oldest and leaf 8 is just being exerted. The
enlarged area of the crown shows the apical
meristem that produces the leaves.
The vegetative meristem, where leaves form at
the base of the plant and the apical meristem
remains at or near the soil surface.
An apical meristem (expanded portion) is
responsible for leaf formation.
the reproductive apical meristem
A reproductive grass tiller.
This tiller has a stem (or culm) and
seedhead that differs from the tiller (left
Figure). Intercalary meristematic tissue at
the base of the leaf blade, near the ligule
(insert), allows for leaf expansion.
Reproductive meristems are stimulated to
begin growth, which results in the
development of stems, a few leaves, and
reproductive structures
Leaves growth
• It takes leaves to grow leaves.
• The newly growing leaf receives carbohydrates from roots,
crowns, stems, or older leaves until the leaf’s requirements for
growth can be met by the leaf’s energy production.
• Once formed, an individual leaf is short-lived. During its prime
middle age, it produced more energy than it consumed and
exports assimilated to other parts of the plant.
• At that time, it has the greatest dry weight and is the most
nutritious. Leaf senescence (slow death) begins shortly after
middle age beginning at the tip and spreading downward.
• The rate of senescence is influenced by environmental conditions
but occurs at about the same rate as growth. As the leaf dies, cell
contents are mobilized and redistributed to other plant parts -
thus reducing the nutritive value of older leaves.
 Roots growth
• Root growth and development are affected by many factors, some of
which are limited by the growth characteristics of the species
themselves, while others are limited by their environment
• Roots on perennial grasses are constantly dying as a result of aging,
drought, insect and disease, and regrowing.
• Roots cannot make their energy, so they depend on the leaves to
manufacture the energy. Leaves have the priority for energy, then
roots. A plant with few leaves devotes little energy to the root system.
When a plant reaches the reproductive stage, the top uses little energy
for growth, so energy (carbohydrates) is partitioned away from the
leaves and stems to add mass to the root system and reserves to the
crown.
• When a plant is not permitted to regrow, eventually, the supply of
energy from leaves and crown becomes exhausted - root growth stops
and the root system will begin to shrink as a result of natural mortality.
How does grazing/defoliation affect the plant?

• To regrow and make the necessary leaves, the plant

uses two sources of energy: existing leaves, which make
new carbohydrates via photosynthesis; and stored
carbohydrates.
• Plants would prefer to grow new leaves by producing
carbohydrates with old leaves than by moving stored
carbohydrates. It’s easier and more efficient.
• During the vegetative stage, shoots continue normal
development under moderate defoliation if the apical
meristem remains intact.
• During transition even moderate grazing may destroy
the apical meristem if internode elongation has begun.
• When the apical meristems are destroyed, regrowth
depends on basal buds. If buds have not produced
sprouts, recovery will be delayed.
• A long rest period, the intercalary meristems elongate
and lift the blades to a vulnerable height. Once
removed, leaves die.
Source:
www.ars.usda.gov/mwa/ma
dison/dfrc

Growth from existing leaves Growth from reserved carbohydrate

During moisture stress (dry season), plants are more dependent on stored
carbohydrates for growth. Increase the residual height of the grazed plants and
lengthen the rest periods between rotations. This way there are more leaves
present to help supply the plant with carbohydrates
 Source: www.ars.usda.gov/mwa/madison/dfrc
Grass grows back more quickly
when there is adequate residual
height after grazing
The rate increases as residual increases –
until the grass is long enough to start
shading the underside of the plant and
slowing down the growth.
During moisture stress, plants are more
dependent on stored carbohydrates for
growth. Increase the residual height of the
grazed plants and lengthen the rest periods
between rotations. This way there are more
leaves present to help supply the plant with
carbohydrates
An adequate residual height will
also shorten the length of time
until grass can be grazed again
An adequate residual height, which
promotes quicker regrowth, also shortens
the length of time before cattle can graze in
the same pasture again.
Shorter residual height:
▪ will increase the length of rest periods;
▪ may change pasture composition;
▪ may encourage weeds.
 From left to right the drawings of clumps of grass represent the roots and tops of
1) simulated overuse by livestock, 2) rotational grazing, 3) proper use and 4) deferred grazing.
• One management practice is important for all grasses:
always maintain a sufficient number of leaves to provide
energy for regrowth and recovery of roots and leaves
after harvest, return organic matter to the soil, and
cover the soil to prevent rainfall runoff and increase
water absorption into the soil.
Pasture Establishment
Pastura yang dibuat (sown pastures) dapat berasal dari perbaikan
padang rumput yang ada seperti padang rumput asli/alam atau
membuat baru pada lahan tertentu seperti hutan atau semak
belukar dengan cara introduksi rumput dan atau legum untuk
digunakan sebagai padang penggembalaan sementara atau
permanen.

Secara garis besar, ada 4 langkah kegiatan dalam pembuatan baru

pastura, yaitu :
1. Persiapan lahan;
2. Persiapan bahan tanam (biji/stek batang)
3. Penanaman
4. Pengelolaan tanaman selama periode awal pertumbuhan
 Persiapan lahan

Pemberian pupuk kandang

Sebelum penanaman dilakukan pengambilan sampel tanah untuk dianalisis

Seleksi bibit Penanaman rumput padangan

Sumber: BPTUHPT Padang Mengatas –drh. Gigih Tri Pambudi, MM

 Penyiangan

Sumber: Muhmuza, A (2021). https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/e

https://caes.mak.ac.ug/news/livestock-farmers-skilled-on- ducation-that-pays-for-itself-
pasture-production-and-management/ uganda/reports/?subid=4911
Pertumbuhan padang rumput yang baru ditanam dengan bahan tanam
bagian vegetatif berupa stek (potongan batang) atau sobekan rumpun
(pols), mungkin lebih tepat disebut dengan “regrowth” atau
pertumbuhan kembali bersamaan dengan pemindahan tempat ke lokasi
yang baru, maka faktor yang perlu diperhatikan yaitu :
1. Titik tumbuh (untuk pertumbuhan tunas/pucuk dan untuk
pertumbuhan akar); Titik tumbuh pucuk (meristem apikal) di dalam
kubah ujung lingkup daun atau akar; pada pangkal daun (meristem
interkalar) pada pangkal batang dan buku antar ruas (tunas/buds).
2. Makanan cadangan pada bahan tanam; Makanan cadangan
(terutama pada bahan tanam stek, terdapat dalam batang atau
pangkal batang dan di dalam akar.
3. Jaringan untuk fotosintesis (leaf area, terutama pada bahan tanam
sobekan rumpun); Merupakan bagian tanaman yang mengandung
klorofil (terutama daun/leaf area), mungkin juga bagian lain seperti
tangkai daun dan batang.
4. Kondisi lingkungan tempat tumbuh; Tanah sebagai media tempat
tumbuh tanaman, memerlukan kondisi yang optimal untuk
pertumbuhan, seperti kelembaban/air, suhu, kemasaman (pH), dan
ketersediaan unsur hara.