RED CLOVER: A NOTE

Author(s):  
L.B. Anderson

AMONG legumes used in pastures red clover has an important role in maintaining pasture production in late summer. whentemperature and soil moisture levels may limit the growth of white clover. Under these conditions red clover is capable of high levels of growth and is one of the most productive pasture species at that time.

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Archer ◽  
GG Robinson

This paper reports the findings of a five-year study on the growth patterns, production and means of persistence of white clover in a cool temperate environment with summer dominant rainfall, on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. White clover essentially persisted as a perennial, but large and rapid declines in plant frequency occurred during late summer if soil moisture levels became depleted. The critical combination of conditions at which plant frequency was adversely affected occurred when available soil moisture levels declined below 35 mm and mean weekly maximum temperatures exceeded 20�C; conditions which often occur in late summer in this environment. During one prolonged period of moisture stress in the second spring and summer period of the study, all plants died. Regeneration was due to germination of seeds and seedling establishment, but plants subsequently persisted as perennials. Relationships were developed to predict the probability of survival of white clover over the range of temperatures and soil moistures recorded in these experiments. Germination occurred to a variable extent each year, but was observed only during winter and spring. Seedling establishment was effective in only one year, which followed the death of white clover in summer, 1980-81. The sward was slow to recover after seedling regeneration owing to low winter temperatures and competition from established temperate perennial grasses in spring. Seedlings contributed little to dry matter production in spring. These results indicate that white clover is unlikely to be of value as an annual in temperate pastures. Strategies aimed at improving white clover in cool temperate environments, either by management or selection/breeding programs, should therefore focus upon improving the ability of white clover to persist as a perennial.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 474-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Koehler-Cole ◽  
James R. Brandle ◽  
Charles A. Francis ◽  
Charles A. Shapiro ◽  
Erin E. Blankenship ◽  
...  

AbstractGreen manure crops must produce high biomass to supply biological N, increase organic matter and control weeds. The objectives of our study were to assess above-ground biomass productivity and weed suppression of clover (Trifolium spp.) green manures in an organic soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-corn (Zea mays L.) rotation in eastern Nebraska in three cycles (2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14). Treatments were green manure species [red clover (T. pratense L.) and white clover (T. repens L.)] undersown into winter wheat in March and green manure mowing regime (one late summer mowing or no mowing). We measured wheat productivity and grain protein at wheat harvest, and clover and weed above-ground biomass as dry matter (DM) at wheat harvest, 35 days after wheat harvest, in October and in April before clover termination. Winter wheat grain yields and grain protein were not affected by undersown clovers. DM was higher for red than for white clover at most sampling times. Red clover produced between 0.4 and 5.5 Mg ha−1 in the fall and 0.4–5.2 Mg ha−1 in the spring. White clover produced between 0.1 and 2.5 Mg ha−1 in the fall and 0.2–3.1 Mg ha−1 in the spring. Weed DM was lower under red clover than under white clover at most sampling times. In the spring, weed DM ranged from 0.0 to 0.6 Mg ha−1 under red clover and from 0.0 to 3.1 Mg ha−1 under white clover. Mowing did not consistently affect clover or weed DM. For organic growers in eastern Nebraska, red clover undersown into winter wheat can be a productive green manure with good weed suppression potential.


Author(s):  
B.E. Ruz-Jerez ◽  
P.Roger Ball ◽  
R.E. White ◽  
P.E.H. Gregg

This paper compares a herbal ley (of particular interest to farmers involved in the 'organic' branch of agriculture) with a conventional pasture (ryegrass-white clover) and a more intensive system (pure ryegrass receiving 400 kg fertiliser N/ha/yr) in a study lasting 2 years. The herbal ley seeds mixture was prepared following the pioneering ideas of Robert Elliot in his "Clifton ~~ ~~~~~Park"mixture,-whichbasically-included~a-group of 'non-aggressive' grasses, forage legumes and herbs. Pasture production (average of 2 years) from Herbal ley was 15 t DM/ha/yr, representing approximately 90% of the yield from the intensively managed pure ryegrass pasture receiving 400 kg N/ ha&r and some 2530% more than from ryegrassclover. A major feature of the herbal ley was substantialproductionduringlate.springandsummer, when chicory (the most dominant herb), and red clover and white clover made a major contribution to herbage yield. In winter the total yield was similar tothatI?omthegrass-cloverpasture.L.egumecontent was 23 and 3 1% (averaged over the year) for Grassclover and Herbal ley pastures respectively. In spite of this difference, symbiotic N fixation was similar. So fixation efficiency on a legume yield basis was 50.3 and 3 1.6 kg N fixed/t legume DM harvested, respectively. These results could reflect a different pattern of utilisation of soil N, as a consequence of the different botanical composition of the swards. In summary, the performance of the herbal ley offers the promise of an alternative, 'specialist' pasture and would be highly beneficial if quality feed is required in summer. Keywords herbal ley, biological fertility, nitrogen, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, pasture mixtures


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Miller ◽  
Vagner M. Leite ◽  
Linda M. Hall ◽  
Edward W. Bork

Legumes such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) increase forage productivity and quality in northern temperate pastures, but require re-establishment following broadleaf weed control using herbicides. To quantify the residual effects of two herbicides (aminocyclopyrachlor and aminopyralid) on potential legume re-establishment we examined alfalfa and clover recruitment at two field sites over two years. Sites were over-seeded with alfalfa and clover to populate the seed bank, and then sprayed with herbicide, after which seedling densities were monitored in late summer and fall of the current growing season. Defoliation (via mowing) effects were also assessed to evaluate the role of vegetation competition on legume establishment. Herbicides were applied at recommended rates (1.0), and 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0 times recommended field rates, emulating exponential herbicide degradation (one through four half-lives). Alfalfa and white clover seedling densities were negatively impacted by all rates of herbicide, with modestly greater negative impacts from aminopyralid than aminocyclopyrachlor, although responses to herbicides remained site and legume specific. Reductions in alfalfa and clover were particularly evident through the 0.25 (i.e., two half-life) herbicide rate, with reductions in alfalfa ranging from 78% to 95%, and in clover from 73% to 88%. Legume densities at the 0.125 (three half-life) rate were 39%–68% lower than those in nonsprayed control plots. Our results suggest that at least three half-lives of degradation must occur, and likely four or more, before these legumes can re-establish at densities acceptable for pasture production. These findings have implications for producers seeking to promptly re-establish forage legumes within pastures sprayed for broadleaf weed control in northern temperate regions.


Author(s):  
R.W. Webby ◽  
G.W. Sheath ◽  
C.J. Boom

On 6 of a set of 12 self-contained experimental farmlets, improved pasture cultivars 'Ellett' ryegrass, 'Grasslands Wana' cocksfoot, 'Grasslands Tahora' white clover, Whatawhata Early Flowering' white clover, 'Mount Barker' sub clover, 'Tallarook sub clover, 'Grasslands Mama prairie grass, 'Grasslands Pitau white clover and 'Grasslands Pawera' red clover were successfully established in 1986. Measurements began May 1987. Results presented to May 1989 include pasture production, animal production and financial returns. Matua prairie grass failed to persist beyond spring 1988 but clovers including Pawera and Pitau in these pastures increased summer production in 1989. In summer 1989 the improved steep pastures produced 8 kg DM/ha/day more feed than the resident pastures, with most of this increase owing to Wana cocksfoot. Lamb numbers and lamb weight gains were greater with improved pastures. Bulls were priority finishing animals and their weights were insensitive to pasture treatment. Current returns from this experiment show little to justify the investment made in introducing new cultivars into existing developed hill pastures. Keywords pasture cultivars, hill country, finishing systems, pasture improvement


Author(s):  
M.J.S. Floate ◽  
P.D. Enright ◽  
K.E. Woodrow

Two lotus and 4 clover cultivars were oversown at 3 tussock sites ranging in altitude from 460 to 1040 m. The sites were initially similar in soil chemical characteristics, aspect and topography, so that differences were attributable mainly to increasing severity of climate. The objectives were to determine the extent to which legume choice is affected by(a) lime to raise so11 pH, and(b) increasing seventy of climate. In the first year'Grasslands Pawera' red clover wards were outstanding at the lower sites. With time the superiority of Pawera was overtaken by 'Grasslands Maku' and Maitland lotus. Maku swards were outstanding in the absence of lime (UP to 5.5 t DM/ha at 460 m. and up to 2 t DM/ha at 760 m) in years 2-3-4, and Maitland lotus swards produced up to 5 t DM/ha with lime at the lowest site, but did not perform well without lime. At the highest site. lotus-based pasture did not perform consistently as well as the white clover wards. At all sites lime greatly mcreased both the legume content of the swards and total pasture production for at least 4 years. Generally Maitland lotus gave the greatest and Maku lotus the least responses to lime. Keywords: lotus, clover, Maku, Maltland. Huia, Tahora. Pawera. Tetra, lime, altitude, tussock grasslands, legumes


2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
A.D. Black ◽  
D.J. Moot ◽  
R.J. Lucas

Dry matter (DM) production of sown monocultures of Caucasian and white clovers was compared under irrigated and dryland (non-irrigated) conditions in their third year. Caucasian clover produced 11.9 t DM/ ha when irrigated and 9.4 t DM/ha under dryland conditions, and both treatments exceeded white clover by ~2.5 t DM/ha. This increase in yield reflected ~23 kg DM/ha/day higher production rates in spring and summer. During this period, production rates of irrigated treatments increased by 11 kg DM/ ha/day/oC for Caucasian compared with 8 kg DM/ha/ day/oC for white clover as mean daily air temperature increased from 8-16 oC. In late summer/autumn, production rates of Caucasian clover decreased more than white clover when air temperature dropped from 16-9 oC. Growth (photosynthesis) and development (leaf appearance) characteristics of each species were also examined. Leaf photosynthesis was ~6 ƒÊmol CO2/m2/ s higher for Caucasian than for white clover irrespective of measured air temperatures (7-28 oC) and soil moisture from 1.00-0.39 of water holding capacity (WHC, 512 mm to 1.5 m depth). Both clovers had similar ranges of optimum temperature (21-25 oC) and soil moisture (1.00-0.86 of WHC) for photosynthesis. These results could explain the observed higher production rates for Caucasian clover in spring and summer, under both irrigated and dryland conditions. Lower production rates of Caucasian clover in autumn may be attributed to a similar phyllochron (126 oCd), but higher base temperature (5 oC) than for white clover (1 oC), and hence a slower recovery to canopy closure post grazing. This study shows that Caucasian clover has potential to increase spring and summer legume production, in combination or as the sole legume species in both irrigated and dryland grass/clover pastures in lowland temperate environments of New Zealand. Key words: irrigation, photosynthesis, phyllochron, seasonal production, Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb, T. repens


Author(s):  
N.A. Thomson

In a four year grazing trial with dairy cows the application of 5000 kg lime/ ha (applied in two applications of 2500 kg/ha in winter of the first two years) significantly increased annual pasture production in two of the four years and dairy production in one year. In three of the four years lime significantly increased pasture growth over summer/autumn with concurrent increases in milk production. In the last year of the trial lime had little effect on pasture growth but a relatively large increase in milkfat production resulted. A higher incidence of grass staggers was recorded on the limed farmlets in spring for each of the four years. In the second spring immediately following the second application of lime significant depressions in both pasture and plasma magnesium levels were recorded. By the third spring differences in plasma magnesium levels were negligible but small depressions in herbage magnesium resulting from lime continued to the end of the trial. Lime significantly raised soil pH, Ca and Mg levels but had no effect on either soil K or P. As pH levels of the unlimed paddocks were low (5.2-5.4) in each autumn and soil moisture levels were increased by liming, these factors may suggest possible causes for the seasonality of the pasture response to lime


Author(s):  
S.F. Ledgard ◽  
G.J. Brier ◽  
R.N. Watson

Clover cultivars grown with ryegrass were compared in an establishment year under dairy cow grazing. There was no difference in total annual productton but summer production was greater with Pawera red clover and with Kopu or Pitau white clovers. Clovers differed little in the proportion of nitrogen fixed, except during summer when values were highest for Pawera. Pawera was less prone to nematode attack than white clover cultivars but was more susceptible to clover rot. Resident clovers and high buried seed levels (e.g., 11-91 kg/ha) made introduction of new clover cultivars difficult. Sown clovers established best (50-70% of total clover plants) when drilled into soil treated with dicamba and glyphosate. Keywords: white clover, red clover, nematodes. nitrogen fixation, pasture renovation


Author(s):  
I.W. Forster

One honeybee or bumblebee working on each square metre of white clover or red clover gave adequate pollination. This could be obtained with one hive of honeybees to each three hectares of flowering clover. Lucerne seeding averaged only 10% of the potential maximum in open fields with honey- or bumblebees. In cages where honeybees were forced to gather pollen, this was raised to 30% but it was not possible to increase seed set significantly in the fields.


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