'Grasslands Maku' lotus seed production - research and practice

The development of successful seed production techniques for the recently released tetraploid cultivar of Lotus pedunculatus Cav. (syn: L. uliginosis Schk.; and L. major Scop. Sm.) 'Grasslands Maku' must take account of the distinctive agronomic characteristics of the cultivar. These include slow establishment, particularly in the cool season, slow recovery from defoliation, and poor competitive ability with white clover and other weeds in fertile soils. Spring sowings in cooler areas, a minimum of lenient grazings, and the use of low rates (0.5 to 1.0 kg/ha) of ethofumesate to control white clover in establishing stands are recommended. Although shattering of ripe pods can be reduced by careful harvesting techniques and cutting when 70 to 80% of the pods have turned brown, some loss of seed is inevitable. It is suggested that the cultivar should be grown as a specialist seed crop rather than as part of a dual-purpose grazing and seed-production enterprise. Key words: Seed production, 'Maku' Lotus Pedunculatus, lotus, ethofumesate, seed harvesting, Trifolium repens.