LOTUS PEDUNCULATUS -AN AGRICULTURAL PLANT?

Abstract

An extensive underground system that consists of a primary crown and taproot, rhizomes and fibrous roots is a dominant feature of the growth habit of Lotus pedunculatus The suitability of L. pedunculatus as a legume adapted to wet and/or infertile soils may largely depend on the development of this dense, superficial underground system. Autumn expansion of rhizomes, followed by winter fragmentation, results in the spread and propagation of new plant units and highlights the colonizing nature of the plant. Poor persistence and production are noted features of L. pedunculatus in improved, grazed pastures. Slow recovery from defoliation is characteristic of the plant and results from the removal of actively growing shoots and from the delay in re-establishing this shoot population, Lax defoliation encourages more active residual shoot populations, but, because of greater death and decay losses, net herbage productivity may not improve. Identification and development of plants that possess more rapid, early regrowth will be required if L. pedunculatus is to become a successful legume in pasture where its relative competitive ability is not favoured by edaphic conditions.