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Notes: Seeds of white clover (Trifolium repens) were sown alone or in fluid, or pre-germinated in fluid on to the soil surface of slots cut in an old Agrostis/Festuca sward. Seeds were left uncovered or covered with a thin layer of soil and irrigated from the outset or after 14 days delay.With irrigation from the outset, seedlings established soonest from pre-germinated seeds but final percentage establishment ranged only from 50 to 63% for the three states of seed. With delayed Irrigation, however, few pre-germinated s1 survived and although germination of dry seed was delayed, final percentage establishment was unaffected. Soil covering increased establishment slightly. The number of leaves per seedling was greatest with pre-germination and early irrigation and least with pre-germination and delayed irrigation. Delayed irrigation also decreased the number of leaves per seedling for seedlings grown from dry seed.The effects of early irrigation persisted so that at 84 days it significantly increased total yield of clover from all three states of seed, on average threefold, but much more from pre-germinated than from dry seed. Soil covering greatly increased yield, especially where irrigation had been applied from the outset. The interaction of early irrigation and soil covering was even more pronounced for stolon weights, and stolon growth of Individual seedlings appeared to benefit more from soil covering than from early irrigation.The results showed the importance of early seedling emergence, but no advantages of fluid sowing per se. They also indicated large overall beneficial effects of early irrigation and its additive interaction with soil covering.

Notes: Seedlings of white clover (cv. Grasslands Huia) were introduced as spaced plants into 3-year-old monoculture plots of eight grass species (Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis) during June 1984. In mid-April 1985 plots were split for application of propyzamide at the following concentrations: 0, 0·2, 0·4, 0·6 kg a.i. ha-1.During 1984 differences between clover seedling growth in the different grass species became apparent within 2 weeks; growth was greatest in F. rubra, P. pratensis and H. lanatus and smallest in D. glomerata, L. perenne and P. pratense. During 1985, when more N fertilizer was given, H. lanatus and D. glomerata, were equally competitive and clover contributed only 16–18% of the total herbage yield of 10·4 t ha-1 in them, compared with 33–50% of yields ranging from 9·6 to 119 t ha-1 in the other six species. Propyzamide decreased grass growth in mid-season by more than 50% but there was little overall persistent benefit to clover yield, except for A. stolonifera and P. pratense with 0·4 and 0·6 kg ha-1 treatments. Dactylis glomerata and perenne were least and H. lanatus, F. rubra and P. pratensis most suppressed by the herbicide.Possible reasons for the overall large clover contribution from a very sparse seedling population and the relatively small effects of propyzamide are discussed as well as future work required to improve the predictability of effects of grass suppression.

Notes: White clover (cv. Grasslands Huia) was slot-seeded in April 1982 into plots of permanent pasture of differing botanical composition and reserves of soil phosphate. In one investigation the short-term effects of placing different amounts of phosphate (P2O5) in different positions in relation to the slot were investigated. In another, emphasis was given to effects of a grass-suppressing herbicide, propyzamide, on herbage growth and clover contributon during the second year.Fewer seedlings established on plots with a high initial P status and abundant in Holcus lanatus and Alopecurus pratensis than on plots deficient in P2O5 and dominated by Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra. P2O5decreased numbers of establishing clover seedlings when applied in the slots but not when placed beneath them. Growth was increased most when placement was beneath the slot. Application of P2O5to plots previously supplied with it resulted in 7.2 g total above ground and 1.7 g stolon dry weight (m row)−1compared to 1.3 and 0.1 g respectively in plots with low reserves and DO applied P2O5.Propyzamide greatly increased the yield and the contribution of clover in the presence of high initial P status and applied P2O5. Without propyzamide, clover made only a small contribution until July, averaging 7% for the whole season with little benefit from residual P. Clover growth in late summer was increased from 41 to 292 kg DM ha−1 where P2O5 was applied to P-deficient plots sprayed with propyzamide in the previous autumn. The large increases in clover contribution following propyzamide application were accompanied by small decreases in total seasonal yield of grass. The proportions of H. lanatus and. F. rubra. were decreased and of A. capillaris, increased.Spread of clover from the slots was slow during the first year but was encouraged by both P2O5 and propyzamide during the second year. Factors requiring further investigation are discussed.

Notes: Results are presented after 14 and 19 years of the botanical composition and seed bank of moderately fertilized or unfertilized grazed paddocks. Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra and broad-leaved weeds contributed a larger proportion of the cover on unfertilized than on fertilized swards. In contrast Poa spp., Holcus lanatus, Alopecurus pratensis and Lolium perenne were relatively more abundant on the fertilized than on the unfertilized swards. A. capillaris was the most plentiful grass in the seed bank of the unfertilized swards but Poa spp. (especially P. annua) in that of the fertilized swards. Some of the relationships between the seed bank and vegetative cover are discussed and the possibility of further increasing the contribution of L. perenne highlighted.

Notes: Seeds of six cultivars of white clover were sown in 1983 in slots in tares of permanent pasture in soil-filled tanks in spring and in small plots in the field during midsummer. The clover cultivars investigated were the large-leaved Olwin and Milk nova, the medium-leaved Grasslands Huia and Aberystwyth S100, and the small-leaved Kent Wild White and Aberystwyth S184. Seeds from an indigenous clover population were also sown in the tanks. All herbage was defoliated at three- to six-week intervals to simulate rotational grazing and assessments were made until autumn 1984.Leaf and stolon production and spread of stolons from the slots were more rapid in Milkanova, S184, Huia and Kent than in Olwen and S100 In the tanks, harvested yields of clover leaf and petiole were largest for Milkanova and Olwen and least for the indigenous population; both Olwen and S100 had a smaller percentage of their total weight outside the slot area than had the other varieties. In the field, Milkanova greatly out yielded all other varieties and S100 yielded the least, contributing 48 and 27%, resf actively, to total herbage yield. The yield of grass differed little between varieties in tanks but in the field it tended to be higher with the smaller than with the larger-leaved varieties. Total herbage yield was largest for Olwen and Milkanova in tanks and for Milkanova in the field. The greatest weight of stolons in tanks was produced by Olwen and in the field by Olwen and Kent, but the greatest length of stolons and number of nodes in both environments occurred in the smalt-leaved varieties, especially Kent. Least length of stolons and fewest nodes in the tanks were produced by Olwen and in the field by Milkanova.It was concluded that all the varieties investigated could be successfully slot-seeded into permanent pastures but that the choice of variety will depend on subsequent use and management of the resulting swards.

Notes: Summary. Spring wheat, sown at three different times, and Agropyron repens, defoliated at the same three times, were grown separately or together in pots kept in an open-sided cage. The pots were widely spaced and adequately watered. Early sowing of wheat gave a greater grain yield than late sowing, and lessened the loss from competition with Agropyron. Early defoliation of Agropyron slowed its subsequent early growth more than did late defoliation, and plants defoliated early suffered more from competition with wheat. Competition, probably mainly for nitrogen, decreased tillering and the number of ears produced by wheat, more when sowing was late than early, but grain dry weight per ear was decreased equally at the three times of sowing. The rate at which wheat produced leaves was affected by competition only at the last date of sowing. In competition with wheat, Agropyron produced fewer shoots and ears, had lighter shoots and rhizomes, and ear emergence was slightly delayed.

Notes: Seeds of Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv, have little innate dormancy and germinate mainly during autumn, but germination may be delayed by cold, inadequate moisture or deep burial. Seedlings emerged from all viable seeds sown 5 cm deep but from only 4% of those 10 cm deep. Many seeds are viable when green and immature. At Rothamsted, spike emergence and flowering were earlier in 1970 than in 1968 and 1969 but more seeds became viable more rapidly in 1969. Higher temperatures in May and early June in 1970, and after flowering in 1969, probably account for most of these differences. Germination is facilitated by a diurnal alternation of temperature, but more old than young seeds can germinate at a constant temperature.

Notes: Summary. Spikes oi Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. were collected from field crops (mostly spring barley and winter wheat) in England and Wales near the time of crop harvest. Seeds per spike were counted and their germination tested in soil in the glasshouse.About 95% of the samples contained viable seeds; about one third of the samples had fewer than 5 viable seeds/spike, a third between 6 and 15 and a third more than 15. The average number of viable seeds/spike for all samples was 13. Spikes from spring barley (152 samples) had an average of 11 and a maximum of 51 viable seeds and those from winter wheat (42 samples), 20 and 48 respectively. Samples collected within 3 weeks after mid-July had fewer viable seeds/spike than those collected later. Samples containing morphologically-different spikes had more viable seeds/spike than apparently uniform samples, and spikes from dense field populations more seeds than those from sparse populations.

Notes: Summary. Small plots of Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv, were shaded with ‘Tygan’ screening fabric which transmitted approximately 46% of daylight. In 1968, plots were either shaded or unshaded throughout the experiment (from mid-May until September) and in 1969, some plots were also shaded early (mid-May to mid-July) or late (mid-July to September). In both experiments continuous shading halved rhizome dry weight but had a much smaller effect on shoot dry weight. It also decreased rhizome dry matter by 5%. With early shading there were fewer shoots and ears until mid-July but this difference disappeared by September, because plants shaded early produced more shoots and ears after mid-July than unshaded plants. Early shading slightly decreased the final percentage of shoots that developed ears. Early shading increased shoot height by mid-July and late shading increased it by the end of the experiment. Effets de la diminution de l'intensié lumineuse sur la croissance de l'Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv, au champ Résumé. De petites parcelles d'Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. ont été ombragiés avec du ‘Tygan’écran en treillis qui ne laisse passer que 46% environ de la lumère du jour. En 1968, les parcelles furent ombragées ou non pendant toute la durée de l'expérience (de mi-mai à septembre); en 1969 certaines parcelles furent aussi ombragées précocement (de mi-mai à mi-julliet) ou tardivement (de mi-jmllet à septembre). Dans les deux expériences, l'ombrage continu réduisit de moitié le poids sec des rhizomes mais eut un effet beaucoup plus faible sur le poids sec de la partie aérienne. II réduisit également de 5% la matière sèche des rhizomes. Avec un ombrage précoce, il y eut moins de tiges et d'épis jusquà mi-juillet, mais cette différence n'existait plus en septembre paree que les plantes ombragées précocement produisirent après la mi-juillet, plus de tiges et d'épis que les plantes non ombragées. L'ombrage précoce diminua le pourcentage final des tiges qui produisirent des épis. L'ombrage précoce augmenta la hauteur des tiges à la mi-juillet et l'ombrage tardif eut le même effet à la fin de I'expérience. Auswirkungen verringerter Lichtintensität auf das Wachstum von Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. Im FeldZusammenfassung. Kleine Parzellen mit Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. wurden mit ‘Tygan’ Abschirmmaterial, das etwa 46% des Tageslichts durchliess, beschattet. Im Jahre 1968 wurden die Parzellen während der gesamten Versuchadauer (von Mitte Mai bis September) entweder beschattet oder nicht beschattet; 1969 wurden auch einige Parzellen früh (von Mitte Mai bis Mitte Juli) oder spät (von Mittc Juli bis September) beschattet. In beiden Experimenten reduzierte durchgehende Beschattung das Rhizom-trockengewicht um die Hälfte, hatte jedoch eine weit geringere Auswirkung auf das Trockengewicht der oberirdischen Teile. Die Rhizomtrockensubstanz war um 5% vermindert, Bei früher Beschattung würden bis Mitte Juli weniger Schosse und Ahren gebildet; dieser Unterschied war jedoch bis September wieder verschwunden, da beschattete Pflanzen ab Mitte Juli mehr Schosse und Ähren produzierten als unbeschattete. Frühe Besehattung führte zu einer leiehten Verringerung des Prozentsatzes der Schosse, die Ähren bildeten. Die Länge der Sehosse war Mitte Juli durch frühe Beschattung vergrössert und am Ende des Experiments durch späte Besehattung.

Notes: Summary. The growth of seedlings of Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. and Agrostis gigantea Roth, in pots was studied in two experiments in 1968 and 1969. In Experiment 1 their growth was compared with that of wheat and in Experiment 2 they were grown in sandy loam (Woburn) and silt loam (Rothamsted) soil at four levels of nitrogen.Both species grew faster than wheat, mainly because they had a larger leaf area ratio. Tillering began earlier in wheat, but continued longer in the grasses, which eventually had many more shoots. Ears emerged in the order: wheat before Agropyron before Agrostis. Although Agrostis had much lighter seeds than Agropyron, it grew faster, but Agropyron initiated rhizomes sooner, usually when it had 1–2 tillers and 4 leaves. Agrostis did not initiate rhizomes until it had at least 10 tillers and 6 leaves. In Experiment 2 the seedlings at first grew more in Woburn than in Rothamsted soil but later more in Rothamsted than in Woburn soil. There was no evidence of a species/soil interaction but nitrogen had more effect on both species in Woburn than in Rothamsted soil. Neither soil type nor nitrogen affected the time at which rhizomes were initiated.Etude de la croissance de plantules d'Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. et d'Agrostis gigantea Roth.Résumé. La croissance de plantules A'Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. et d'Agrostis gigantea Roth, cultivdes en pots a étéétudiée au cours de deux expériences en 1968 et 1969. Dans la premiére experience, leur croissance fut compareée à celle du blé et dans une seconde experiénce, ces deux espéces furent cultivées sur un sol sablo-limoneux (Woburn) et sur un sol argilo-limoneux (Rothamsted) á quatre niveaux d'azote.Les deux mauvaises herbes poussérent plus vite que le blé, principalement en raison de leur rapport plus éalevé de surface foliaire. Le tallage commenga plus tot chez le bié, mais se poursuivit plus longtemps chez les deux mauvaises herbes qui, en fin de compte, eurent plus de tiges. L'épiaison se produisit dans l'ordre suivant: bléa, Agropyron, Agrostis. Bien que I'Agrostis ait des semences plus petites que I'Agropyron, il poussa plus vite, mais I'Agropyron émit des rhizomes plus tôt, habituellement au stade 1 à 2 talles et 4 feuilles. L'Agrostis n'émit pas de rhizome avant d'atteindre au moins le stade 10 talles et 6 feuilles. Dans la deuxième experience, les plantules poussérent d'abord plus dans le sol de Woburn que dans celui de Rothamsted mais, plus tard, plus dans le sol de Rothamsted que dans Celui de Woburn. II ne fut pas décelé d'interaction entre le sol et les espéces, mais I'azote fit un effet plus marqué sur les deux espéces dans le sol de Woburn que dans celui de Rothamsted. Ni le type de sol, ni le niveau d'azote n'eurent d'influence sur l'époque à laquelle les rhizomes commencérent de croître.Untersuchungen zum Wachstum von Keirnpjlanzen von Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. Und Agrostis gigantea Roih.Zusammenfassung. Das Wachstum von Keimpfianzen von Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. und Agrostis gigantea Roth, in Töpfen wurde 1968 und 1969 in zwei Versuchen untersucht. In Versuch II wurde das Wachstum mit dem von Weizen verglichen. In Versuch II wurden sie in sandigen Lehmboden (Woburn) und Silt-Lehm-(Rothamsted) Boden bei vier Stickstoffstufen angezogen.Beide Arten wuchsen in erster Linie wegen ihres grösseren Blattflächenanteils schneller als Weizen. Die Bestockung begann fruher bei Weizen, zog sich jedoch bei den Gräsern, die schliesslich wesentlich mehr Halme hatten, langer hin. Ahrenschieben erfolgte am frühesten bei Weizen, dann bei Agropyron und schliesslich bei Agrostis. Obgleich Agrostis viel leichtere Samen hatte als Agropyron, wuchs es schneller, doch entwickelte Agropyron fruher Rhizome, nornialerweise bei 1–2 Bestockungstriebe und 4 Blättern. Agrostis entwickelte Rhizome nicht ehe es mindestens 10 Bestockungstriebe und 6 Blätter hatte. In Versuch II wuchsen die Keimpflanzen zunächst besser in Woburn- als in Rothamsted-Boden, später wieder besser in Rothamsted als in Woburn-Boden. Es gab keine Anhalts-punkte für eine Interaktion zwisehen den Arten und dem Boden, doch wirkte Stickstoff bei beiden Arten besser in Woburn- als in Rothamsted-Boden. Weder Bodentyp noch Stickstoffmenge beeinflussten den Beginn der Rhizombfldung.