POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF TRIFOLIUM-BALANSAE AND TRIFOLIUM-RESUPINATUM IN SELF-REGENERATING PASTURES .1. SEED AND PLANT DENSITIES AND DRY-MATTER YIELD

1. Trifolium balansae cv. Paradana and T. resupinatum lines SA 12240 a nd SA 14433 were sown as monospecific swards with and without irrigati on; the field site had a red-brown earth soil. Seed bank and plant pop ulation densities and herbage yield were measured over a 3-year period . 2. Seed density in the seed bank was highest just after seed product ion and lowest during the growing season. Up to 65% (average of c. 40% ) of seed present in the seed bank before summer disappeared during th e mainly dry summer months between seed set and autumn regeneration. A nother 31% decrease in seed density occurred during regeneration. 3. S eed impermeability was highest (95%) just after seed production and du ring the growing season and lowest (78-87%) just before regeneration. 4. Seedling density was very high (up to 10 000 plants per m(2)) after regeneration, but more than 90% of plants died during the growing sea son. In 1988 plant density during the growing season was two to three times higher than in 1989 and 1990. 5. Total dry matter yield did not differ significantly between the lines tested, but Paradana plots bad a significantly higher clover content than SA 12240 and SA 14433 plots , ranging from 2253 to 1068 kg per ha. 6. Paradana was better suited t o the experimental environment than was either T. resupinatum line; di fferences in plant size and subsequent seed production were the major factors contributing to the successful persistence of Paradana.