Abstract
Plants of Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub. cv Verano and Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. cv Schofield, grown separately in pots under glasshouse conditions, were subjected to recurring cycles of soil drying/wetting, and the effect on plant growth was assessed. Six harvests at 10-day intervals were taken. Starting 45 days after planting, standard growth analysis techniques were used for comparison. The water stress treatment reduced the dry matter yield of both species, influenced dry matter distribution in the plants and reduced various growth parameters. S. guianensis yielded significantly (P<0.05) more dry matter pot-1 than S. hamata under both conditions. There was delayed flowering of about eight days in the water-stressed S. hamata plants when compared with the non-stressed treatment; S. guianensis did not flower at all under any condition.
