Nutritional restraints on subterranean clover grown on acid soils used for crop-pasture rotation

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Coventry ◽  
JR Hirth ◽  
KKH Fung

Lime, N and molybdenum fertilizers were used to establish how soil acidity limits the growth of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), in pot culture, on acid soils taken from north-east Victoria. The results indicate that two nutritional factors associated with the growth of subterranean clover are affected by excess acidity. These are manganese toxicity and ineffective nodulation of the clover. The plants grown on one unlimed soil (Rutherglen) had manganese concentrations and symptoms consistent with manganese toxicity. Liming the second soil (Lilliput) overcame a N deficiency by way of increased nodule formation. A third nutritional factor commonly associated with excess acidity, and found on the Lilliput soil, molybdenum deficiency, was not alleviated by the application of lime. Instead, the application of molybdenum fertilizer gave increases in clover dry matter production at all lime rates. In the absence of molybdenum fertilizer, the molybdenum concentration of the herbage was extremely low, irrespective of liming. These results are discussed in relation to already established field responses of subterranean clover to lime, and the management of the clover-ley system on the strongly acid soils.


2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. McCaskill ◽  
M. C. Raeside ◽  
S. G. Clark ◽  
C. MacDonald ◽  
B. Clark ◽  
...  

Pastures sown to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) with a perennial non-legume could increase feed supply relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Such mixtures might also be preferable to pure lucerne pastures, which are prone to weed invasion. Yield and water-use efficiency (harvested dry matter per unit evapotranspiration) of mixtures with lucerne or subterranean clover were compared a field experiment established under rainfed conditions at Hamilton, Victoria. Soil moisture and dry matter production were measured over 2 years. Treatments included chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) with either lucerne or subterranean clover; pure lucerne; and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with only subterranean clover. In the second year, dry matter production from lucerne mixtures exceeded that of equivalent mixtures with subterranean clover in spring, summer and winter. In spring, the lucerne component continued producing for longer than the clover component through its use of deeper stored soil water, and in summer, lucerne continued to grow slowly after the grass component had entered a drought-induced dormancy. In winter, the contribution from the lucerne component complemented, rather than competed with, that from the non-legume component. Water-use efficiencies during winter–spring ranged from 4 kg ha–1 mm–1 for chicory–clover to 27 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture, and during summer–autumn from nil for cocksfoot–clover to 13 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture. This study demonstrates that lucerne-based mixtures can increase forage supply per unit water use relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover.



1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 733 ◽  
Author(s):  
DN Munns

Lucerne grew poorly without lime on several acid soils on which subterranean clover grew normally. On the moderately acid soils, of pH 5.5–6.0, most of the lime response by lucerne could be attributed to improvement in nodulation and could be eliminated by supplying ammonium nitrate. Strains of medic Rhizobium differed in ability to nodulate lucerne plants in acid soils sufficiently to suggest practical advantage in selecting strains for superiority in this respect. On the more acid soils, of pH 5.0–5.5, lucerne responded to lime or potassium carbonate even when not nitrogen-deficient. This lime response was eliminated by large applications of phosphate. The interaction between lime and phosphate could indicate aluminium toxicity.



1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (39) ◽  
pp. 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Gartrell

Sodium molybdate at l 1/2 oz, 3 oz, and 6 oz mixed with 6 lb ground limestone and pelleted onto 12 lb of Trifolium subterraneum cv. Geraldton inoculated with peat culture markedly reduced clover nodulation, growth, and combined nitrogen production compared with nil sodium molybdate. Mixtures of sodium molybdate l 1/2 oz, 3 oz, and 6 oz with l80 lb superphosphate drilled at 180 lb an acre with 12 lb an acre clover seed inoculated and pelleted with 6 lb ground limestone had no effect on nodulation, increased dry matter production by 70 per cent, and increased nitrogen per acre in tops by 110 per cent compared with nil sodium molybdate. The differences persisted into the second growing season.



1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (112) ◽  
pp. 498 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Reddy ◽  
AM Alston ◽  
KG Tiller

Seasonal changes in the concentrations of copper, molybdenum and sulfur in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), silver grass (Vulpia sp.), Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), and capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) growing on lateritic podzolic soils were measured in glasshouse and field studies. The effects of varying soil temperature and water content on the concentrations of copper, molybdenum and sulfur in subterranean clover on a lateritic podzolic soil and a calcareous sand were also investigated. Similar seasonal patterns in plant composition were observed in the glasshouse and the field. The concentration of molybdenum tended to remain constant throughout the season, but that of copper and sulfur declined from autumn to spring; the decline was more rapid in the grasses than in subterranean clover and capeweed. Subterranean clover had higher concentrations of copper and sulfur but lower molybdenum than silver grass or Wimmera ryegrass. Capeweed contained more copper and molybdenum but less sulfur than subterranean clover. The concentrations of molybdenum and sulfur were similar in capeweed and the grasses. lncreasing soil temperature from 12 to 22�C increased the dry matter production and the concentrations of copper and molybdenum (but not sulfur) in subterranean clover on both soils. lncreasing soil water content slightly increased dry matter production and the concentration of molybdenum but had no effect on the concentration of copper and sulfur in subterranean clover. The results are discussed in relation to the health of grazing animals.



1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Horsnell

Subterranean clover responds poorly to superphosphate application on some acid soils of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. A field experiment was undertaken, for two years, to examine the effects of incorporating large additional amounts of superphosphate or rock phosphate in the soil, with and without lime, on the growth of subterranean clover, lucerne and phalaris sown with recommended rates of lime superphosphate. Dry matter responses of subterranean clover and lucerne to superphosphate topdressing in the second year were also recorded. In the first year, subterranean clover growth was increased by the additional lime and by lime plus superphosphate. Lucerne growth was increased by additional lime. In the second year, the growth of subterranean clover was increased by the lime treatments and the superphosphate treatments applied in the previous year and by the deep incorporation into the soil of lime and superphosphate together. Subterranean clover growth also responded to the application of rock phosphate without lime. Lucerne dry matter production in the second year was increased by the lime, superphosphate and rock phosphate treatments applied in the first year. Lime application increased the yield responses of subterranean clover and lucerne to superphosphate topdressed in the second year. Lime application had no effect on the nitrogen content of the clover but increased that of lucerne. Lime application reduced the aluminium levels in the tops of all three species. The data suggest that the responsiveness of pastures to superphosphate on these soils is increased by the application of lime and rock phosphate and is related to low nitrogen fixation and high aluminium levels in the plant.



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.



1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Evans ◽  
RS Smith ◽  
JA Carpenter ◽  
TB Koen

Fifteen cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and 1 cultivar of balansa clover (Trifolium balansae Boiss.) were screened for tolerance to 2,4-DB, MCPA-Na salt, MCPA amine, bromoxynil and combinations of these herbicides. The clovers were sprayed at the 3-4 trifoliate leaf stage and dry matter production assessed in the following spring. All herbicides reduced clover dry matter production (DM). The least damaging herbicides to subterranean clover were bromoxynil (0.3 kg a.i./ha) and MCPA-Na salt (0.313 kg a.i./ha) which reduced DM production by 23 and 39% respectively. The most damaging were 2,4-DB (0.8 kg a.i./ha) and MCPA amine (0.313 kg a.i./ha) plus bromoxynil (0.3 kg a.i./ha) which reduced DM production by 62 and 56% respectively. The damage caused by MCPA-Na salt (0.5 kg a.i./ha) plus bromoxynil (0.3 kg a.i./ha) was intermediate, reducing clover production by 44%. Second year seedling regeneration was reduced across all herbicide treatments by 32%. Of the currently recommended cultivars, Trikkala was the most tolerant to herbicides, with an average reduction in DM of 37%. Bromoxynil was the herbicide tolerated best by cvv. Enfield, Karridale, Larisa, Mt Barker and Woogenellup. The most effective weed killing treatments were 2,4-DB plus bromoxynil and MCPA-Na salt (0.5 kg a.i./ha) plus bromoxynil(0.3 kg a.i./ha).



1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (110) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Bouma ◽  
EJ Dowling ◽  
DJ David

ln an experiment with lucerne (Medicago sativa) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), grown in solution cultures at two levels of phosphorus, each at five aluminium levels and pH 4, growth and aluminium transport to the leaves were comparable in both species up to the fourth aluminium level (40�M All. The highest aluminium level (200 �M Al) caused a much greater growth depression in lucerne than in subterranean clover. In lucerne, aluminium concentrations in leaf dry matter peaked at the fourth aluminium level. Concentrations below this peak could indicate non-toxic as well as toxic supplies of aluminium. Leaf analysis, therefore, appears to be of little value in the detection of aluminium problems in lucerne. In subterranean clover leaves, aluminium concentrations increased to values in excess of 1 70 ppm of the dry matter at the highest aluminium level. In a second experiment, in which subterranean clover plants were grown in pots in two acid soils at two phosphorus x five aluminium levels, close, inverse, linear relations were found between relative yield (Al/no Al x 100) and leaf aluminium concentrations. These relations differed between soils, harvests and phosphorus levels, and would therefore be of little help in providing quantitative estimates of yield depressions in subterranean clover caused by aluminium. However, the lines all converged within the range of 100-1 50 ppm aluminium in leaf dry matter of plants in the no aluminium treatment, suggesting that this range represented a 'threshold' above which yield reductions due to aluminium occurred.



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.



1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
MDA Bolland

The effect of superphosphate applications (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg P/ha to the soil surface) on the dry matter (DM) herbage production of dense swards of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Junee) and yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus cv. Tauro) was measured in a field experiment on deep, sandy soil in south-western Australia. The swards were defoliated with a reel mower at weekly intervals from 88 to 158 days after sowing, to a height of 2 cm for the first 9 cuts, 4 cm for the tenth cut and 5 cm for the eleventh cut. Yellow serradella was more productive than subterranean clover. Consequently, for the relationship between yield and the level of phosphorus (P) applied, yellow serradella supported larger maximum yields and required less P than subterranean clover, to produce the same DM herbage yield. Maximum yields of yellow serradella were 12-40% larger. To produce 70% of the maximum yield for yellow serradella at each harvest, yellow serradella required about 50% less P than subterranean clover. However, when yields were expressed as a percentage of the maximum yield measured for each species at each harvest, the relationship between yield and the level of P applied was similar for both species, and they had similar P requirements.



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