EFFECT OF GRASS SPECIES AND ROW SPACING ON DANDELION ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH

The size of dandelions (Taraxacum officinale Weber) growing in intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host.) Beauv.), crested wheatgrass (A. cristatum L.), a northern biotype of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a southern biotype of bromegrass, meadow fescue (Festuca elatior L.), creeping red fescue (F. rubra var. genuina L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) was effectively reduced by decreasing the row spacing of each grass from 100 cm to 20 cm. Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.) had only a minor effect on dandelion size regardless of the row spacing at which it was planted. Within any given row spacing between 20 and 100 cm, dandelion density was not affected by grass species. However, as the row spacing decreased the average density of dandelions growing in the seven grass species also decreased.