Publication Date
1989
Description
Broadleafed birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), is recognized for good productivity on marginal soils (Seaney and Henson, 1970), high feeding value (Marten and Ehle, 1984), stock-piling efficiency (Collins, 1982) and freedom from bloatinducement in ruminants (Marten and Jordan, 1979) makes it a worthy herbage crop for many areas and grazing situations. The most productive USA areas are New England, the West Coast, the North Central Plains, and some isolated areas of higher elevations in the South (Grant and Marten, 1985). Difficulty in harvesting sufficient quantities of seed is a major factor limiting the use and production of birdsfoot trefoil in the USA. Seed production of 100 kg/ha or less is typical in commercial seed production fields resulting in high seed prices. Eighty-three percent of the certified birdsfoot trefoil seed production in the USA occurs in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In commercial production of seed, yields should be maximized, but in herbage production situations, management for seed production is vital to the long-term persistence of stands, but may be detrimental in some environments. Indeterminate flowering and pod maturity accompanied by dehiscent pods create problems in commercial seed harvest. When the majority of the pods mature some umbels dehisce while others are immature. Harvest at optimum seed maturity in Minnesota yielded approximately 63 % mature umbels, 25 % immature, and 12 % dehisced (McGraw and Beuselinck, 1983). Pod dehiscence is greater when temperatures are high and relative humidity is low (Metcalfe et al., 1957); the opposite is true for cooler, moister environments. Yet, even in a good environment for seed production only about 12 % of available assimilates are partitioned to seed (Mc Graw and Beuselinck, 1983). Genetic improvement or improved cultural or chemical methods that would increase partioning to seed, produce a more determinate growth habit, or increase dehiscence resistance should help increase commercial seed yields in birdsfoot trefoil.
Citation
Beuselinck, P R. and McGraw, R L., "Environmental Considerations for Lotus Production: Seed Versus Herbage" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 11.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session5/11
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Environmental Considerations for Lotus Production: Seed Versus Herbage
Broadleafed birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), is recognized for good productivity on marginal soils (Seaney and Henson, 1970), high feeding value (Marten and Ehle, 1984), stock-piling efficiency (Collins, 1982) and freedom from bloatinducement in ruminants (Marten and Jordan, 1979) makes it a worthy herbage crop for many areas and grazing situations. The most productive USA areas are New England, the West Coast, the North Central Plains, and some isolated areas of higher elevations in the South (Grant and Marten, 1985). Difficulty in harvesting sufficient quantities of seed is a major factor limiting the use and production of birdsfoot trefoil in the USA. Seed production of 100 kg/ha or less is typical in commercial seed production fields resulting in high seed prices. Eighty-three percent of the certified birdsfoot trefoil seed production in the USA occurs in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In commercial production of seed, yields should be maximized, but in herbage production situations, management for seed production is vital to the long-term persistence of stands, but may be detrimental in some environments. Indeterminate flowering and pod maturity accompanied by dehiscent pods create problems in commercial seed harvest. When the majority of the pods mature some umbels dehisce while others are immature. Harvest at optimum seed maturity in Minnesota yielded approximately 63 % mature umbels, 25 % immature, and 12 % dehisced (McGraw and Beuselinck, 1983). Pod dehiscence is greater when temperatures are high and relative humidity is low (Metcalfe et al., 1957); the opposite is true for cooler, moister environments. Yet, even in a good environment for seed production only about 12 % of available assimilates are partitioned to seed (Mc Graw and Beuselinck, 1983). Genetic improvement or improved cultural or chemical methods that would increase partioning to seed, produce a more determinate growth habit, or increase dehiscence resistance should help increase commercial seed yields in birdsfoot trefoil.
