Theme 01: Ecophysiology of Grasslands
Description
A technique for assessing the fate of seed grazed by sheep in small field plots was examined using the pasture species Trifolium michelianum cv. Paradana, Medicago truncatula cv. Mogul, Trifolium spumosum and Trigonella balansae. Trifolium spumosum lost the greatest proportion of seed from dry pasture residues (88% seed eaten), whereas Trigonella balansae, Paradana and Mogul lost 61%, 55% and 53% respectively. However, Trifolium spumosum and Paradana had high levels of seed in the faeces (56.8 kg/ha and 65.2 kg/ha respectively), whereas Mogul and Trigonella balansae had low levels (10.3 kg/ha and 11.0 kg/ha respectively). Mogul, due to it's large pod and seed sustained the greatest losses of seed eaten by sheep. Structure and size of the seed head, proximity of the seed head to the ground, seed size and hardseededness all influence the survival of seed grazed by sheep.
Included in
A Technique for Assessing Seed Survival of New Pasture Legumes Following Grazing by Sheep
A technique for assessing the fate of seed grazed by sheep in small field plots was examined using the pasture species Trifolium michelianum cv. Paradana, Medicago truncatula cv. Mogul, Trifolium spumosum and Trigonella balansae. Trifolium spumosum lost the greatest proportion of seed from dry pasture residues (88% seed eaten), whereas Trigonella balansae, Paradana and Mogul lost 61%, 55% and 53% respectively. However, Trifolium spumosum and Paradana had high levels of seed in the faeces (56.8 kg/ha and 65.2 kg/ha respectively), whereas Mogul and Trigonella balansae had low levels (10.3 kg/ha and 11.0 kg/ha respectively). Mogul, due to it's large pod and seed sustained the greatest losses of seed eaten by sheep. Structure and size of the seed head, proximity of the seed head to the ground, seed size and hardseededness all influence the survival of seed grazed by sheep.
