Mj. Blumenthal et al., Establishment, growth and persistence of greater lotus (Lotus uliginosus) at six sites in eastern Australia, AUST J EX A, 39(7), 1999, pp. 819-827
Three Lotus uliginosus populations, cv. Maku, Sharnae and the line G4704 we
re compared to Trifolium repens cv. Haifa on the basis of plant frequency a
nd contribution to total above ground biomass production at 6 sites in east
ern Australia (Samford, Grafton, Taree, Nowra, Moss Vale and Warragul). In
addition, L. uliginosus G4703 was sown at Nowra and L. corniculatus (L.) cv
. Grasslands Goldie was sown at Taree. At each site populations were sown w
ith a grass; Setaria sphacelata cv. Narok at Samford, Grafton and Taree; Lo
lium perenne cv. Kangaroo Valley at Nowra and Moss Vale and cv. Ellett at W
arragul. Grasslands Maku and the sown grasses were also sown alone at each
site. Each of the pasture treatments was sown either with 500 kg/ha single
superphosphate or without superphosphate (or with small amounts of P, if av
ailable soil Bray P <16 mg/kg).
The main findings were that: (i) superphosphate had little effect on lotus
frequency and biomass after the first few harvests; (ii) Haifa white clover
was the most successful legume in terms of plant frequency and contributio
n to total biomass at the subtropical sites (Taree, Grafton and Samford); (
iii) Haifa was the most successful legume in the establishment year at the
temperate sites, but lotus became dominant in subsequent years; (iv) Grassl
ands Maku was the superior greater lotus population in terms of frequency a
nd contribution to total biomass production at all sites; and (v) at Taree,
the one site where L. corniculatus cv. Grasslands Goldie was included, it
was the superior population.