Yield and compensatory growth of lucerne following simulated winter‐kill

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) sown at 2·8-11·2 kg ha−1 in spring was thinned in the autumn by digging plants from alternate 15- or 30-cm lengths of row. Both thinning treatments decreased the subsequent year stand density by 34%. Yields the following year were reduced by 24 and 17% for the 15- and 30-cm treatments respectively, and the next year by 10% for both treatments. Thinning effects were similar at all sowing rates. During the year following thinning, plants did not grow larger in response to the thinning. Thus, development of compensatory growth by lucerne plants following sudden stand thinning is slow.