The survival in South Australia of Hunter River, African, and creeping lucernes after extended periods of severe grazing

Abstract

Hunter River and African lucerne (Medicago sativa), and two creeping-rooted strains, were severely grazed for extended periods. After two years grazing only 20 per cent of the original plants remained. African plants disappeared most rapidly, and Hunter River survived longest. The two creeping strains were intermediate and were very similar to each other. Nearly 20 per cent of the plants in the creeping strains were creeping one year after establishment. There was no difference between the survival of creeping and non-creeping plants. Poor adaptation of the creeping strains to this environment may have prevented any supposed advantages of creep from being expressed.