Contrasting effects of soil pH on seed germination and early seedling growth of Calobota sericea and Lessertia frutescens subs. frutescens

Abstract

This study evaluated the impacts of pH on the germination and early seedling growth of Calobota sericea and Lessertia frutescens subsp. frutescens, two perennial legume species found in the semi-arid rangelands of South Africa. The results of this study revealed that L. frutescens had higher seed germination under more acidic conditions, while C. sericea had higher seed germination under alkaline conditions. Similarly, L. frutescens seedlings were found to be larger under more acidic conditions, while C. sericea seedlings were larger under more alkaline conditions. Both species were able to germinate under all of the pH treatments, suggesting that they are adapted to a wide range of pH conditions, at least at the germination and early seedling growth stage.