Flooding Tolerance of Fall Panicum and Texas Panicum

Fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.) and Texas panicum (Panicum texanum Buckl.) were grown in the greenhouse under flooding treatments of 0, 6, and 9 days in 10 for 1 month. Fall panicum was more tolerant of flooded soil than was Texas panicum. Root development of Texas panicum was reduced by 50% under all flooding treatments. Herbage and root growth of fall panicum with flooding was similar to that on well-drained soil. Fall panicum root diameter was greater than that of Texas panicum, but both species increased under flooding. Tolerance of fall panicum to flooding may partially explain why it competes so well with crop plants during wet periods.