EMERGENCE AND SEEDLING SURVIVAL OF LOTUS-TENUIS IN FESTUCA-ARUNDINACEA PASTURES

Emergence and survival of seedlings of lotus or narrowleaf trefoil (Lo tus tenuis Waldst) were monitored in 4 grazed pastures dominated by ta ll fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb,) for 2 successive years, The ob jective was to detect patterns and environmental conditions promoting successful seedling establishment of lotus, Emergence followed a seaso nal pattern each year, with most emergence occurring towards the end o f winter, Seedling emergence occurred mainly in heavily grazed sites w hich occupied 45 to 90% of each pasture, Seedling emergence was greate st, but seedling survival was poorest in the wettest year, Competition resulting from climatic conditions favoring growth of established pas ture plants was detrimental to establishment of lotus seedlings, In co ntrast, heavily grazed areas provided microsites that enhanced surviva l of new recruits during the spring growing season, Dense seedling sta nds emerging on feces were overcrowded and suffered the highest mortal ity, thus, they contributed Little to recruitment of lotus, However, d ispersal of lotus was enhanced by the presence of seeds in livestock f eces.