Hard seed breakdown patterns of unprocessed forage legume seed sown into dry soil in summer in southern Australia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-25-2021
Journal Title
Grass and Forage Science
ISSN
0142-5242 eISSN: 1365-2494
Keywords
eco-geographic variation, forage legumes, G x E interaction, hard seed, pasture renovation, summer sowing
Disciplines
Agronomy and Crop Sciences
Abstract
The patterns and extent of hard seed breakdown of dormant seeds and pods following burial in the soil in February (summer) varied for up to 19 accessions of 12 species of annual forage legumes. The experiments, at six sites across southern Australia, were designed to identify legumes whose patterns of hard seed breakdown would suit them to agronomic evaluation in a summer sowing research program. For a subset of accessions, sufficient hard seed breakdown was demonstrated between February and April to allow a high proportion of seed to germinate in late autumn—a desirable pattern for summer sowing. Although there was a large G x E interaction, some cultivars of Ornithopus sativus Brot., O. compressus L. and Trifolium spumosum L. had a pattern that was reproducible at all sites. The experiments also identified accessions of Biserrula pelecinus L. and T. glanduliferum Boiss., which had the desirable pattern in regions of south-eastern Australia, but not Western Australia. A pragmatic approach for selection of forage legume accessions in situ for evaluation within a summer sowing program was demonstrated.
Recommended Citation
Howieson, J G,
Harrison, R J,
Yates, R J,
and
Hackney, B.
(2021), Hard seed breakdown patterns of unprocessed forage legume seed sown into dry soil in summer in southern Australia. Grass and Forage Science, 76 (1), 82-92.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fc_researchart/215
