Survival and growth of seedlings of Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L. in newly sown grassland

Summary The survival and growth of seedlings of Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L. were investigated from 1982 to 1984. A sward was established by the sowing of seeds of Dactylis glomerata and Trifolium repens and managed under two cutting frequencies. Five hundred seeds of each Rumex species were sown m−2. The total number of emergent seedlings of each Rumex species over two seasons was 230–360 m−2. About 85% of them emerged within 3 months of sowing. Both Rumex species showed the same pattern of survivorship. Survival was clearly enhanced by frequent cutting during the second season. About 20% of the emerged plants survived through to the third season. Plants that emerged during the first season only flowered during the second season. The flowering percentage of total surviving plants was significantly higher in R. obtusifolius than in R. crispus. Rumex obtusifolius was higher in dry matter of aerial parts defoliated during the second season and more individual plants survived through to the third season than for R. crispus. Moreover, dry matter production of grass and clover was depressed by 25–30% in mixtures with R. obtusifolius. compared with production in mixtures with R. crispus.