Εffect of clipping on total available carbohydrates of Amorpha fruticosa L.

Defoliation had a direct impact on energy reserveς which mainly consist of total available carbohydrates of the plant species. The effect of a 60% clipping of the current growth (leaves and twigs) of Amorpha fruticosa to the total available carbohydrates compared to the control (0%) was investigated. Clipping was initiated the last part of May, and then was repeated every six weeks until September at which time the control was clipped. Total available carbohydrates were determined in leaves and twigs of the samples from the first clipping in May, and the last clipping in September. For comparative purposes samples clipped from the control were analyzed. Total available carbohydrates of twigs were significantly higher than that of leaves, from clipped or unclipped plants Total available carbohydrates of leaves and stems of clipped plants were lower compared to the control.