Effect of cultivar, sowing time, and density on the growth of subterranean clover in winter

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Ru ◽  
J. A. Fortune ◽  
W. D. Bellotti

In winter and early spring in Mediterranean environments, animal production is often limited by the low herbage availability associated with low growth rates and short swards, which result in low intake. In the present study, 26 subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cultivars were evaluated for herbage availability early in the season. There were large variations in dry matter yield (0·3-0·7 g/plant), sward height (2·9-9·3 cm), and leaf area index (1·0-5·1) among cultivars after 70 days of growth, indicating a possibility for selection of cultivars based on these parameters. Increasing plant density from 460 to 4600 plants/m2 increased dry matter yield from 88·5 to 362·8 g/m2 and sward height from 2·6 to 8·3 cm at Day 60. Early sowing increased dry matter yield, sward height, petiole length, leaf number, and leaf size by 13, 6, 32, 10, and 23%, respectively, after 70 days of growth. These results indicate that new pastures should be established early if soil moisture is adequate, and that the time of the season break has an important influence on early growth of pastures and, consequently, on the budgeting of feed in farming practice.

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Silsbury ◽  
S Fukai

Growth curves have been constructed for undefoliated swards of subterranean clover (cv. Woogenellup) established at three plant densities (1,2 and 4 x l03 plants per m2) at three times of the year (May, June and August). The swards grew without any apparent water stress, until early December. The time course of shoot dry matter increase is examined by the use of a logistic function and by the recognition of three growth stages. Maximum crop growth rates ranged from 10 to 15 gm-2 day-1. The rate decreased with increase in density but increased with lateness of sowing, so that the highest crop growth rate was obtained with the lowest plant density sown in August. Estimated end-of-season yields were independent of density but decreased from about 1500 g m-2 for May sowing to 1000 g m-2 for August sowing. Effects of sowing density on the growth pattern persisted throughout the whole season. Swards took 70–100 days to attain a leaf area index (LAI) of 3, after which crop growth rates were almost constant with time and independent of short-term fluctuations in the level of daily solar radiation and average daily temperature. Swards reached a maximum LAI of about 6, LAI being linearly related to the amount of shoot dry matter up to about 600 gm-2 independent of density and sowing time. No evidence was found of an optimal relationship between crop growth rate and LAI.It is concluded that end-of-season yield is independent of plant density above 1000 established plants per m2, and that swards established as late as August have the capacity to attain a yield of 10 tonnes ha-1 provided the growing season is extended.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 392 ◽  
Author(s):  
AA McGowan ◽  
IH Cameron

The effect of time of application of superphosphate on the dry matter produced from a subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)annual grass pasture was studied. Treatments involved an annual topdressing of superphosphate, at 125 kg ha-1, in a particular month of the year, for each of the twelve months ; there was also an unfertilized control. In winter, dry matter yield was increased by 350-1190 kg ha-1 when superphosphate was applied at any time of the year. Winter yields were higher after application in January to May (mean 1570 kg ha-1) than in October to December (mean 1190 kg ha-1) or in June-July (mean 1230 kg ha-1). In spring, the greatest increases in dry matter yield were from topdressing in August or September (1600 and 1210 kg ha-1 respectively). Spring yields following application in other months were smaller but usually significantly greater than the yield of unfertilized pasture. The response to autumn application of superphosphate was much greater in winter than in spring. This was not due to a lower phosphorus requirement by the pasture in spring than in winter.


1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Fukai ◽  
JH Silsbury

A simple deterministic model to simulate the time course of potential dry matter growth by subterranean clover swards in the field is described. Relationships used in the model were obtained mainly from experiments in temperature-controlled glasshouses and from measurements of rate of carbon dioxide exchange in an assimilation chamber. Canopy carbon dioxide exchange rates in the light and in the dark are calculated in the model from leaf area index, total dry matter, air temperature, irradiance and the crop growth rate of the sward. Photosynthates are distributed among different parts of plants according to empirical relationships. The model can estimate the potential dry matter growth of swards grown at different levels of irradiance and at different temperatures. Dry matter yield of a crop growing in the field without limitation of water and mineral nutrients can be predicted to within 20% for 100 days of growth. Potential dry matter yield of pure subterranean clover swards at Adelaide is predicted by the model to be strongly influenced by the time of cessation of growth. If the growth is terminated in the middle of October, an early start to growth as well as a high plant density will be advantageous for a high final yield. On the one hand, if the growing season extends until late November, there will be only a small effect of time of commencement of growth on final yield. The model suggests that leaf area index is an important determinant of dry matter production up to about 200 g m-2, and that increased maintenance respiration at a dry matter yield above about 600 g m-2 results in a decreased growth rate. The effects of variation in irradiance and temperature on dry matter production at different growth stages are assessed. It is concluded from use of the model that the effects of temperature on crop growth rate depend on the amount of dry matter present and on the level of solar radiation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Two experiments were conducted on plots sown in autumn 1992, at Tamworth in northern New South Wales. The first compared the establishment of 3 perennial grasses when sown as monocultures or with competitors in either broadcast-sown swards or alternate row-sown plots. Sowing rate and species of competitor were also examined as factors affecting perennial grass establishment. Perennial grasses were Austrodanthonia richardsonii (synonym Danthonia richardsonii) cv. Taranna, A. bipartita (synonym D. linkii) cv. Bunderra, and Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirosa. Competitors were Trifolium subterraneum var. brachycalycinum cv. Clare, T. repens cv. Haifa, and Lolium rigidum cv. Wimmera. In spring 1992, competitors were removed from 144 of the 288 plots to prevent them from seeding. A second experiment compared the longer-term (1993–96) dry matter yield and persistence of these perennial grasses under continuous grazing in plots were the competitor was present in year 1 (1992) or in all years (1992–96). In spring 1992, mean dry matter yield of perennial grass was higher (P<0.001) in row-sown plots then those sown by broadcasting. Mean dry matter yield of perennial grass was lowest at low sowing rate, but not significantly different at medium and high sowing rates (about 350 kg DM/ha). Compared with the monocultures, the presence of a competitor reduced mean perennial grass dry matter yields by 48, 69 and 85%, respectively for white clover, subterranean clover and annual ryegrass. Perennial grass plant numbers were highest (P<0.001) in the medium and high sowing rates of the monocultures and in white clover competitor plots and lowest (P<0.001) in all broadcast-sown plots, where annual ryegrass was the competitor. By spring 1996, white clover and annual ryegrass had declined to a low level in the pasture in all plots and the only major competitor was subterranean clover (1200 kg DM/ha, 40% plant frequency). Mean dry matter yields were highest (P<0.001) for Sirosa in 1993, but with dry conditions in 1994 and continuous grazing they were highest for Bunderra in all other years. The implications of these data for devising sowing strategies to maximise the establishment of perennial grasses and their long-term persistence in this environment are discussed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
RR Young ◽  
KJ Morthorpe ◽  
HI Nicol ◽  
PH Croft

Fifteen annual pasture legumes [Medicago truncatula cvv. Jemalong, Cyprus, Paraggio, Sephi, Parabinga, plus fixed lines SAD 6699, SAD 6766, SAD 7883; M. aculeata lines SAD 2325, SAD 2356; M. scutellata cv. Sava; M. laciniata (cutleaf medic) local ecotype Cl2; Trifolium subterraneum cvv. Nungarin, Dalkeith, Seaton Park] were sown at Condobolin at 6 times in autumn and winter 1986 and periodically grazed at 3 levels of intensity (nil, until flowering, until pod formation). Late sowing greatly reduced (P<0.001) the weight of 50-day-old plants, more so for some varieties (e.g. Cyprus) than others (e.g. Dalkeith, SAD 2325). Seed size accounted for most of the variation (R2 = 0.92) in the weight of plants with 1-2 trifoliate leaves. Total dry matter yields were reduced (P<0.001) by later sowing and grazing, and there were interactions between both of these factors and variety. The subterranean clovers yielded most dry matter and Cyprus and Sava least. Dry matter yields of SAD 6699 and cutleaf medic were reduced least by grazing. Time from sowing until flowering was shorter with later sowing times. With later sowing times, the order of flowering of early-maturing varieties changed, and the difference between the earliest and latest varieties fell from 100 to 11 days. Grazing delayed flowering by up to 2 weeks. All treatments and interactions affected (P<0.001) seed yield. Seed yields were highest (>100 g/m2) in ungrazed early-sown plots and were reduced (P<0.001) at later sowing times by grazing until pod formation for all sowing times for all varieties, and by grazing until flowering for some varieties. Cutleaf medic, Nungarin, and Dalkeith had superior seed yields under adverse conditions of grazing and late sowing. Spring dry matter yields accounted for 90% of the variation in seed yields. There was no optimum dry matter yield for maximum seed yield (except SAD 7883 at 778 g/m2 and cutleaf medic at 275 g/m2) under mild spring conditions, and flowering time did not account for variation (P>0.05) in seed yields at any sowing time. Seeds on previously ungrazed plots progressively softened between 8 December 1986 and 8 March 1987, with those of Jemalong, Cyprus, Parabinga, SAD 6766, cutleaf medic, Dalkeith, and Seaton Park softening more rapidly on later sown plots.


1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
AR Leys ◽  
B Plater ◽  
WJ Lill

The responses of vulpia [Vulpia bromoides (L.) S. F. Gray and V. myuros (L.) C. C. Gmelin] and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) to rate and time of application of simazine were compared on a red loam soil containing 1.8% organic matter and on sands containing 0.4 and 0.8% organic matter. In 1988 and 1989, applications of 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 kg a.i./ha of simazine in late May-early June resulted in 96.4, 99.8 and 99.6% control of vulpia, respectively. Later applications in July-August, or earlier applications in April, were less effective. There were no differences in the levels of control obtained on the 2 soils, nor were there any differences in the susceptibility of V. bromoides or V. myuros to simazine. On the red loam soil simazine did not reduce subterranean clover plant density or dry matter production; however, severe reductions of both were recorded on the sandy soils. Reasons for the different responses, along with the potential for the use of simazine to control vulpia in subterranean clover pastures, are discussed in detail.


1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Rossiter

The results of three experiments — two in pot culture and one in the field — are described in which five commercial strains of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were grown on Crawley sand at Perth. The strains were Dwalganup, Yarloop, Bacchus Marsh, Mt. Barker, and Tallarook. All strains were affected similarly by potassium deficiency and no evidence of differential response to applied potassium was obtained, either in dry matter yield or potassium content. As an aid in the diagnosis of potassium deficiency, the value 0.8 per cent. potassium in the leaf plus petiole of clover tops (irrespective of strain) sampled 10 weeks or more after germination may be taken to indicate incipient deficiency.


1956 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Black

Changes in the pre-emergence distribution of dry matter in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) variety Bacchus Marsh were followed at 21°C, using three sizes of seed and three depths of sowing, ½, 1¼, and 2 in. Decreasing seed size and increasing depth of sowing both reduce the weight of the cotyledons a t emergence. Seed of the three sizes were sown a t three depths in pot culture a t staggered intervals so that emergence was simultaneous. Dry weight in the early vegetative stage was proportional to seed size, and total leaf area and leaf numbers showed similar trends. Plants of each seed size grew at the same relative rate. No effect of depth of sowing could be detected, and this was shown to be due to the cotyledon area a t emergence being constant for any given seed size, regardless of varying depth of sowing and hence of cotyledon weight. It was concluded that seed size in a plant having epigeal germination and without endosperm is of importance: firstly, in limiting the maximum hypocotyl elongation and hence depth of sowing, and secondly, in determining cotyledon area. Cotyledon area in turn influences seedling growth, which is not affected by cotyledon weight. Once emergence has taken place, cotyledonary reserves are of no further significance in the growth of the plants.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
MAR Sharif ◽  
MZ Haque ◽  
MHK Howlader ◽  
MJ Hossain

The experiment was conducted at the field laboratory of the Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh during the period from November, 2011 to March 2012 under the tidal Floodplain region to find out optimum sowing time for the selected three cultivars (BARI Sharisha-15, BINA Sharisha-5 and BARI Sharisha-9). There were four sowing dates viz. 30 November, 15 December, 30 December and 15 January. Significant variations due to different sowing dates were observed in plant height, total dry matter, leaf area index, number of siliqua plant-1, seeds silique-1, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and HI. Results showed that the highest grain yield (1.73 t ha-1) was obtained from the first sowing (30 November) with BINA Sharisha-5 and it was significantly different from the yields of all other combination.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 14(2): 155-160, December 2016


1982 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. U. Remison ◽  
E. O. Lucas

SUMMARYTwo maize cvs, FARZ 23 and FARZ 25, were grown at three densities (37,000, 53,000 and 80,000 plants/ha) in 1979 and 1980. Leaf area index (LAI) increased with increase in plant population and was at a maximum at mid-silk. Grain yield was highest at 53,000 plants/ha. There was no relation between LAI and grain yield but there was a positive correlation between LAI and total dry matter yield.


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