The growth of barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) in annual pasture. 1. Germination and establishment in comparison with other annual pasture species

Abstract

Several experiments were carried out to examine aspects of the germination and establishment of seeds of barley grass (Hordeum leprinum), and several of its companions in annual pastures. These indicated that freshly-matured seed of barley grass had considerable dormancy the first summer. While day temperatures remained high it did not germinate readily, but had no marked advantage over its companions. Compared with Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), the seeds and seedlings were much larger and it geminated and established mere successfully cr. compact surfaces. Plants arising from surface-sown seeds were compared with those from buried seeds : with barley grass they were much larger, but with Wimmera ryegrass they were not.