scholarly journals EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND SULPHUR FERTILIZATION ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM SUBTERRANEUM)

Author(s):  
M.B. Jones ◽  
J.H. Oh ◽  
J.E. Ruckman

Phosphorus or sulphur applied alone to a soil deficient in P and S did not increase subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) yields; but when the two elements were applied together, a five-fold ,increase was obtained. The nutritive value of the clover was evaluated by measuring sheep rumen microbial activity using an anaerobic manometric technique. Subterranean clover fertilized with P alone increased the microbial activity about 6%. In contrast, the clover fertilized with S alone decreased activity about 5%. When P and S were applied together, microbial activity was increased 20 to 30%, depending on the rates applied. There was a positive correlation between the level of reducing sugars in the clover and the degree of rumen microbial activity.

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Ru ◽  
J. A. Fortune

The nutritive value of 26 cultivars of dry, mature subterranean clover was evaluated at Shenton Park, Perth, Western Australia. The cultivars were divided into 3 maturity groups according to flowering time and each cultivar was sown in blocks comprising 4 replicates. The plots were grazed by sheep at 2-week intervals during the growing season. Dry mature plant material and soil were sampled in summer to examine the effect of grazing and cultivar on seed yield and nutritive value of feed residues. Cultivars heavily grazed in spring had a low herbage mass. There was no difference in seed yield and seed weight between heavily and lightly grazed cultivars. Dry matter digestibility and mineral content of dry residues was inconsistent for the 2 grazing treatments. The dry matter digestibility of dry, mature subterranean clover ranged from 40 to 56%, with a wide range of crude fibre, nitrogen and mineral content for the 26 cultivars. While most minerals in the dry residues were above the requirement for sheep, 7 cultivars had a zinc content less than the maintenance requirement for sheep. There was an imbalance for all cultivars in calcium: phosphorus with a range of 4–10: 1. Concurrent estimates on the yield and composition of seed indicated that seed can be resource of minerals for grazing animals in summer. Most cultivars had a seed yield over 100 g/m2 with that of 9 cultivars being over 130 g/m2. Seed was rich in nitrogen, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc and copper, and poor in sodium, calcium and manganese. However, there were no cultivars with an appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus. The imbalance in nitrogen and sulfur was a result of high nitrogen content with the ratio ranging from 19: 1 to 29: 1.


1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (63) ◽  
pp. 404 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG McIvor ◽  
DF Smith

Changes in herbage production, dry matter content, nitrogen content and in vitro digestibility of two sown species-subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) - and five common volunteer species-capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), musky crowfoot (Erodium moschatum), barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), ripgut brome grass (Bromus rigidus) and soft brome grass (Bromus mollis)-were measured throughout their growth cycle. The volunteer species compared favourably with the sown species for these measurements and should be capable of providing nutritious grazing for animals.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Waller ◽  
P. E. Quigley ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
P. W. G. Sale

The survival of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants was studied in sheep pastures in south-western Victoria during the dry summer of 1996–97. Recruitment of perennial ryegrass seedlings into the pasture sward was also monitored in the autumn–winter periods in 1997 and 1998. The objective was to investigate whether a tactical stocking strategy, consisting of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring, might increase perennial ryegrass tiller survival and seedling recruitment in the autumn, compared with continuous stocking all year. The grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture [sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year as applied fertiliser] and a naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg P/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester × Merino ewes, mated to a terminal sire so as to lamb in September. Perennial ryegrass tiller density was higher on the upgraded pasture with a mean density of 7750 tillers/m2 in early summer which declined to zero live tillers by mid summer. Live tillers began to reappear before the opening rains and then increased after the rain. Mean tiller density in the upgraded pasture declined over the 2 summers, with only 2050 tillers/m2 being present 2 months after the opening rains in 1998. There were no effects (P>0.05) of pasture type or grazing strategy on the number of tagged tillers that survived the summer period. Only 12% of the vegetative tillers, randomly tagged in December 1996, survived to May 1997. More than half of the tillers (56%) that produced a seedhead produced daughter tillers which survived the dry summer–autumn period. A significant (P<0.05) interaction between grazing strategy and pasture type occurred with the number of perennial ryegrass seedlings that had established 4 weeks after the opening rains in 1997. There was a 5–11-fold increase in seedling numbers which regenerated in the tactically stocked, upgraded pasture compared with the other treatments. Seedling recruitment was considerably lower in the autumn of 1998, due presumably to an overall decline in perennial ryegrass density relative to annual grasses in 1997. A second experiment investigated the effect of excluding sheep from grazing at anthesis until seedhead maturation or until the opening rains, together with a mechanical seed dislodgment treatment at seed maturity. All exclusion treatments increased seedling recruitment 4–7-fold, compared with continuous stocking. The results suggest a possible mechanism by which perennial ryegrass density can be increased without expensive reseeding.


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Cohen

An in sacco (nylon bag) technique was used to estimate the degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein, and to estimate the effective rumen degradability of protein (ERDP), for 3 irrigated clover herbages. Pasture characteristics (nutritive values and leaf: stem ratios) were also described, and relationships to ERDP established. The nutritive value characteristics and degradabilities of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were also compared for various regrowth periods (of 3, 4, 6, and 12 weeks). Nutritive value characteristics of clover herbages varied from 9.9 to 11.9 MJ/kg DM for metabolisable energy, 153 to 304 g/kg DM for crude protein, and 209 to 377 g/kg DM for neutral detergent fibre. The leaf: stem ratio correlated well with the crude protein content of the clovers, with herbages consisting of more leaf generally having superior crude protein content (R2 = 0.64, P < 0.001). The effective rumen degradability of protein for clover herbages ranged from 60 g/kg DM for mature (12 week regrowth) subterranean clover to 195 g/kg DM for vegetative (3 weeks regrowth) Persian clover. For clover herbages with a 3-week regrowth period, after initial cutting to 5 cm, and at ruminal outflow rates of 0.08/h, the effective rumen degradability of protein varied from 136 to 195 g/kg DM. A positive relationship between crude protein and ERDP (R2 = 0.82) suggested that ERDP could be estimated for clover herbages that have been previously assessed for crude protein content, obviating the need for in sacco studies. Calculated degradabilities were lower for all clovers when higher ruminal outflow rates were assumed. Using the metabolisable protein system, metabolisable protein supply and metabolisable protein in excess of animal requirements were calculated. Ruminal losses of nitrogen were also estimated for cows consuming white clover of varying regrowth periods in both early and late lactation. It was concluded that metabolisable protein supply is unlikely to limit production in these examples. At regrowth periods of 3 weeks, metabolisable protein contributions from microbial and dietary sources were similar, and twice that required by the animal. Ruminal losses of nitrogen were substantial and amounted to 66—23% of nitrogen intake. In the experiments reported here, if all of the energy required to excrete excess protein (as urea) could instead be used for the production of milk, cows may have produced 0.5mp;mdash;2.0 kg more milk per day. Such losses could potentially be reduced if the protein content and/or degradabilities of clover herbages were reduced, and/or energy rich supplements were offered.


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. J. Ru ◽  
J. A. Fortune

While it has been reported that leaves of subterranean clover are less digestible than stems, there is a lack of information on the variability of nutritive value of plant parts of subterranean clover. To determine the variation in nutritive value of leaf, petiole, stem and burr, an experiment with 26 cultivars of subterranean clover was conducted at Shenton Park Field Station, Perth, Western Australia. The cultivars were divided into 3 maturity groups according to flowering time and each cultivar was sown in blocks comprising 4 replicates. The plots were grazed by sheep at 2-weekly intervals. Plants were sampled at the vegetative stage before grazing and after the cessation of flowering. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) and nitrogen concentration of leaves, petioles, stems and burrs were determined. At the vegetative stage, there was no difference in DMD (P>0.05) among plant parts for most cultivars, and leaf had the highest (P<0.05) nitrogen concentration (4.8–5.4%). After the cessation of flowering, leaf had the highest DMD and nitrogen concentration (P<0.05). The DMD of plant parts differed significantly among cultivars (P<0.05). There was a slight decrease in DMD over time for leaves and a significant decrease in DMD for stems and petioles. These results suggest the main objective of grazing management of subterranean clover swards should be to increase the proportion of leaf material in the swards and that selection of leafy varieties by breeding could improve the late season digestibility of subterranean clover. Such management and breeding strategies would have value when the cultivars are in mixed pastures or used with supplements in summer.


1954 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 608 ◽  
Author(s):  
AG Tyson

Manganese deficiency of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) appeared in pots of a Kangaroo Island soil, the pH of which had been changed by the addition of small amounts of lime from 6.2 (the natural pH) to 6.3-6.5. As a result of this deficiency, yields were severely depressed. The symptoms of manganese deficiency in subterranean clover are described. Chemical analyses of healthy plants showed manganese contents, expressed on a dry matter basis, varying from 30 p.p.m. on a slightly acid soil to over 300 p.p.m. on a strongly acid soil. Plants in various stages of manganese deficiency showed only 4-25 p.p.m. It is suggested that, at the flowering stage, 25 parts of manganese per million parts of dry matter represents the minimum amount of manganese for healthy growth of subterranean clover. Applications of manganese sulphate to the soil at a rate of 56 lb/acre prevented the appearance of manganese deficiency symptoms, increased the manganese content of the clover to 35 p.p.m., and led to nearly a 20-fold increase in growth. Manganese deficiency in subterranean clover has also been seen in the field on Kangaroo Island and one sample examined showed only 9.4 p.p.m. of manganese on a dry matter basis.


1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale

A series of experiments is described which considered the nutritive value of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) herbage grown under irrigation in northern Victoria. Digestion studies were undertaken with sheep and dairy cows and the degradation of herbage samples in nylon bags was evaluated. Digestion coefficients were estimated, 1eaf:stem ratios were measured, mineral and amino acid profiles were obtained, and protein degradabilities were assessed. The digestibility and chemical composition of freshly cut subterranean clover herbage was relatively constant until wilting of the herbage in mid spring. With few exceptions, in vivo DM digestibility and nitrogen content were greater than 75% and 3.2%, respectively, and neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and lignin were less than 40%, 30% and 6%, respectively. The chemical composition of leaves and petioles/stems were very different. The digestibility of the leaf fraction was often much lower than that of petiole/stem, but its nitrogen content was higher. Reasons for this, and their implications, are discussed. Discussed also are the adequacy of herbage minerals and their solubilities. Rumen protein degradability for vegetative herbage ranged from 0.51 to 0.64. Of the plant components, the protein in stems was more degradable than the protein in leaves. The effects of incubation of herbage in nylon bags in the rumen for 24 h on amino acid composition are also discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
Bidhyut Kumar Banik ◽  
Zoey Durmic ◽  
William Erskine ◽  
Clinton Revell

The annual forage legume biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) offers a promising opportunity as a low-methanogenic, bioactive pasture for southern Australian grazing systems where subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) is the dominant annual pasture legume. This in vitro study to assess methanogenic potential examined how growth stage and cutting of biserrula affect biomass, nutritive value and fermentative parameters including methanogenic potential compared with subterranean clover. Both species were grown in a glasshouse, where three growth-stage treatments comprised plant collection at vegetative, reproductive or maturity growth stages. Three cutting (simulated grazing) treatments included cutting at the vegetative or reproductive stage and an uncut control, with herbage collection at maturity. Methane production in biserrula was unaffected by the stage of growth. Other nutritive value and fermentative parameters varied significantly with growth stage, the highest fibre content and lowest crude protein (CP) being found at maturity. Regrowth from herbage cut at the reproductive stage had higher CP and lower biomass than other cut treatments. In biserrula, this regrowth also showed the highest fermentability of the three cutting treatments including elevated methane yield. Notwithstanding these treatment effects on fermentability, biserrula maintained its strong anti-methanogenic advantage over subterranean clover across all treatments, confirming its potential as an anti-methanogenic bioactive pasture.


1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
PER Ridley ◽  
HL Davies ◽  
IN Southey

Medium Peppin Merino wethers were fed, ad libitum, subterranean clover (cv. Woogenellup), rose clover (cv. Kondinin) and soft brome grass cut in September (spring), November (late spring) and January-February (summer). The nitrogen contents of the subterranean clover ranged from 1.89 to 3.13%, of the rose clover from 1.62 to 2.84% and of the soft brome from 0.42 to 2.86%. Mean daily organic matter intakes (kg) in spring, late spring and summer were respectively: for subterranean clover 0.78, 1.09 and 0.42; for rose clover 0.60, 0.87 and 0.62; for soft brome grass 0.87, 0.81 and 0.20. Organic matter digestibilities in spring, late spring and summer were, respectively: for subterranean clover 0.82 ,0.69 and 0.61; for rose lover 0.80, 0.62 and 0.54; for soft brome 0.83, 0.72 and 0.58. There were highly significant differences ( P < 0.001) in nitrogen balance between seasons. The estimated digestible energy intakes (MJ/day) in spring, late spring and summer were, respectively: for subterranean clover 12.7, 14.5 and 4.9; for rose clover, 9.2, 9.9 and 6.9; for soft brome, 13.6, 10.1 and 2.1. Within seasons there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in nitrogen balance between species. There were significant differences between species in mean retention time in the alimentary tract in late spring (P<0.001) and summer (P<0.001) but not in spring. There was a highly significant negative relationship between acid-detergent fibre content and both organic matter and fibre digestibilities. The superior digestible energy intakes of the 2 clovers explain at least some of the superior performance of sheep grazing clover compared with those grazing grass pastures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4181
Author(s):  
Fernando Perez Rojo ◽  
Sumedha Seth ◽  
William Erskine ◽  
Parwinder Kaur

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is the most widely grown annual pasture legume in southern Australia. With the advent of advanced sequencing and genome editing technologies, a simple and efficient gene transfer protocol mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens was developed to overcome the hurdle of genetic manipulation in subterranean clover. In vitro tissue culture and Agrobacterium transformation play a central role in testing the link between specific genes and agronomic traits. In this paper, we investigate a variety of factors affecting the transformation in subterranean clover to increase the transformation efficiency. In vitro culture was optimised by including cefotaxime during seed sterilisation and testing the best antibiotic concentration to select recombinant explants. The concentrations for the combination of antibiotics obtained were as follows: 40 mg L−1 hygromycin, 100 mg L−1 kanamycin and 200 mg L−1 cefotaxime. Additionally, 200 mg L−1 cefotaxime increased shoot regeneration by two-fold. Different plant hormone combinations were tested to analyse the best rooting media. Roots were obtained in a medium supplemented with 1.2 µM IAA. Plasmid pH35 containing a hygromycin-resistant gene and GUS gene was inoculated into the explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AGL0 for transformation. Overall, the transformation efficiency was improved from the 1% previously reported to 5.2%, tested at explant level with Cefotaxime showing a positive effect on shooting regeneration. Other variables in addition to antibiotic and hormone combinations such as bacterial OD, time of infection and incubation temperature may be further tested to enhance the transformation even more. This improved transformation study presents an opportunity to increase the feeding value, persistence, and nutritive value of the key Australian pasture.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document