THE POTENTIAL OF LOTUS spp. FOR HILL LAND IN WALES

Thirty-four introductions of Lotus corniculatus and L. uliginosus , obtained from Europe, North America and New Zealand, were grown in plots with Aberystwyth S23 ryegrass at three centres in Wales (230–400 m a. s. 1.) to assess their potential as legumes for poor acid hill soils. The control white clover varieties were generally successful in these difficult conditions, whereas all the Lotus introductions were poor in two experiments and in the third experiment gave way to volunteer white clover by the third harvest year. These results indicate that none of the numerous Lotus varieties tested would be a useful addition to pasture seeds mixtures for hill lands in Wales.