The Invasion of Molehills by Weeds as a Possible Factor in the Degeneration of Reseeded Pasture. I. The Buried Viable Seed Population of Molehills from Four Reseeded Pastures in West Wales

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Abstract
Molehills collected from two lowland and two upland sites in April were placed in a seed-proof greenhouse for three years under conditions suitable for germination and cultivated at 4-week intervals. The composition of the seedling populations which emerged from the samples in no way reflected the composition of the swards from which they came. The richest flora and highest number of seedlings per molehill were found on one lowland site which was wet and marshy. Only 0-3% of seedlings on any site belonged to sown species. Of the weed seedlings appearing, grasses contributed 37-46% on three sites, only 22% on one upland site. Germination of grasses was restricted to 62 weeks, 84% germination or more occurring in the short period between weeks 6 and 8. Dicotyledons showed a more extended pattern of germination with some species continuing through to the end of the experiment. They were most numerous on the upland sites. Rushes and sedges made a very low contribution on the two upland sites but 45% on the marshy site and 24% on the other lowland site. It was concluded that the potential role of buried viable seed of sown species is negligible in the colonization of molehills but that of weeds is high in all sites examined and particularly so in the marshy site. The average number of seedlings emerging in three years was estimated at 131.5, 177.9, 213.7 and 277.2 per molehill.

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