Author:
Loi A.,Cocks P. S.,Howieson J. G.,Carr S. J.
Abstract
Experiments measuring seed bank size, hardseededness, and seed softening of
biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) were conducted at
Merredin and Perth in Western Australia. At Merredin, a mixture of 2 biserrula
accessions was grazed, shallow cultivated, or left uncultivated and ungrazed.
Seed bank size, seedling regeneration, and seed softening were measured over 2
years. At Perth, softening of biserrula, yellow serradella, and subterranean
clover seeds grown at 2 sites (Binnu and Northam) was compared on the soil
surface and after burial at 2 and 10 cm over a period of 2 years.
Seed bank size of biserrula at Merredin ranged from 14000 to 17500
seeds/m2. Regeneration was greater in the second
year (800–1700 seedlings/m2) than in the first
year (40–600 seedlings/m2). In both years the
shallow cultivated treatment recorded the highest number of seedlings.
About 90% of biserrula and serradella seed remained hard after 2 years
on the soil surface, compared with only about 10% of subterranean
clover. Serradella softened more rapidly when buried 2 cm below the soil
surface (8–12% hard) than it did on the soil surface
(84–92% hard) (P<0.05). In contrast, the
softening of subterranean clover decreased with increasing depth. Biserrula
was intermediate, although it too softened most rapidly at 2 cm
(78–95% hard compared with 82–97% on the surface)
(P<0.05). Rate of seed softening in all species
decreased with increasing depth of burial below 2 cm. Of the 4 accessions of
biserrula, an accession from Greece (83% hard after 2 years exposure)
was significantly softer than the other accessions.
The results indicate that biserrula is very hardseeded, although there is
sufficient variation in hardseededness for the selection of somewhat softer
lines. Its pattern of softening suggests that biserrula may be successful in
the ley farming system (crop/pasture rotations) of southern Australia.
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Cited by
31 articles.
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