Comparison of a herbal ley with a ryegrass-white clover pasture and pure ryegrass sward receiving fertiliser nitrogen

1991 ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.E. Ruz-Jerez ◽  
P.Roger Ball ◽  
R.E. White ◽  
P.E.H. Gregg
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Forage Legumes ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
Intensive System

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

A comparison of silages made from red clover/grass, white clover/grass and high nitrogen grass swards for beef production

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Stewart ◽  
I. I. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Grass Sward

ABSTRACTSilage cut twice annually (June and August) from a tetraploid red clover/grass sward and three times annually (May, July and September) from a low nitrogen (N) and high N perennial ryegrass/white clover sward was fed in proportion to dry-matter yield from each cut, over a 10-week period, each winter for 3 years to castrated male cattle of initial live weight 401 kg in year 1 and 425 kg in years 2 and 3. The silages were supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg concentrate per head daily.Total dry-matter yield from the red clover/grass sward was similar to that from the perennial ryegrass/white clover sward (high N grass) receiving 360 kg N per ha but the digestibility, particularly of first cut material was much lower. Dry-matter production of the low N grass/white clover sward was 0·73 of high N grass sward and produced silages of similar digestibility and fermentation.Dry-matter intakes by the cattle were higher on the legume-based silages in years when clover made a worthwhile contribution to total yield, but this did not significantly improve utilization or animal performance compared with high N grass silage. Mean daily carcass gain per head on red clover/grass silage was 0·41 kg which was significantly less than the 0·61 kg on white clover/grass silage and 0·59 on high N grass (P < 0·001). Carcass output from red clover/grass silage was 618 kg/ha and 629 kg/ha from white clover/grass, both of which were significantly less than the 863 kg/ha from the high N grass silage (P < 0·001). Dressing proportion was also significantly poorer in animals fed red clover/grass silage compared with the other silage types.

Superphosphate and stocking rate effects on a native pasture oversown with Stylosanthes humilis in central coastal Queensland. 1. Pasture production

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (95) ◽  
pp. 788 ◽  
Author(s):  
NH Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Average Percentage ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Stocking Rates

Changes in the yield, botanical composition and chemical composition of a native pasture (Heteropogon contortus dominant) oversown with S. humilis (T.S.) were measured in a grazing experiment from 1966 to 1973. The 24 treatments were factorial combinations of two sowing methods for T.S. (ground sowing into spaced cultivated strips, or aerial sowing), three levels of molybdenized superphosphate (F0 = nil ; F1 = 125 kg ha-1 annually; F2 = 250 kg ha-1 annually plus an extra 250 kg ha-1 initially) and four stocking rates. Stocking rates were gradually increased during the experiment and for the last three years overlapping ranges were used for the three fertilizer levels; the overall range was then from 0.55 to 1.65 beasts ha 1 T.S. establishment by ground sowing was much more reliable than from aerial sowing, giving twice the average percentage frequency, and this proportion was maintained over years. High fertilizer improved establishment and the best legume stands were in the high fertilizer high stocking rate treatments. Total presentation yield of pasture was increased by fertilizer and reduced by high stocking rates. Over the last two years the means for March, adjusted by regression to the overall average stocking rate of 0.98 beasts ha-1, were 31 20,4020 and 5370 kg ha-1 for F0, F1 and F2 respectively, but these yields were reduced by ca 25 per cent for an increase of 0.5 beasts ha-1. H. contortus remained dominant and its mean contribution to total yield increased from 48 per cent in 1969 to 67 per cent in 1973. This proportion was reduced by 12.8 per cent over the range from 0.55 to 1.65 beasts ha-1, but high fertilizer had the opposite effect so that differences between the extremes low stocked F0 and high stocked F2 were small. The DM percentage yield of T.S. was strongly increased by fertilizer, and, most importantly, also by high stocking rates in the presence of fertilizer. Values for F0 treatments remained below 10 per cent, but in the final year values for F1 and F2 at the highest stocking rates were 36 and 27 per cent, respectively. Despite these large changes in T.S., there was overall stability of botanical composition. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations in T.S. and H. contortus were increased by superphosphate but there was an overall decline in potassium concentration. Soil phosphorus levels were greatly increased

scholarly journals Response of simple grass-white clover and multi-species pastures to gibberellic acid or nitrogen fertiliser in autumn

2013 ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Van Rossum ◽  
R.H. Bryant ◽  
G.R. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Gibberellic Acid ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser

Herbage dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and nutritive value of pastures were measured in response to the application of 24 g/ ha gibberellic acid (GA; 60 g ProGibb®/ha) and 50 kg N/ha nitrogen fertiliser (N; 106 kg urea/ha) in autumn. Responses were compared for simple two species grass (perennial ryegrass or tall fescue)-white clover pastures and multi-species pastures where herbs (chicory and plantain), legumes (red clover and lucerne) and prairie grass were sown with the simple mixtures. Four weeks after application, the increase in DM yield averaged across pasture mixtures relative to untreated plots was 273, 104, and 493 kg DM/ha for GA alone, N fertiliser alone, and GA and N combined, respectively. Application of GA increased the white clover percentage in all pastures except simple tall fescue pastures. The percentage of herbs in multispecies pastures was increased by application of N but not GA. Crude protein concentration was decreased by GA application in all pastures except simple ryegrass pastures. The results from this study show that it is important to consider the botanical composition of pastures when determining the effect of GA on DM yield and nutritive value. Keywords: crude protein, Cichorium intybus, Festuca arundinacea, gibberellins, Lolium perenne, Plantago lanceolata, nutritive value

Effect of an associate grass, cutting interval, and cutting height on yield and botanical composition of Siratro pastures in a sub-tropical environment

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (68) ◽  
pp. 334 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Jones
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Plant Vigour ◽  
Cutting Interval ◽  
Effect Of Treatment ◽  
Cutting Height

Plots of Siratro and Siratro plus Nandi setaria were cut every 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks at either 7.5 cm or 15.0 cm above ground over three years. At the end of three years plant density and the residual effect of treatment on yield over ten weeks in spring and summer were measured. The yield of Siratro was reduced by about 30 per cent when grown with Setaria (4.04 and 2.86 t ha-1/yr-1). But total annual yield was increased at all cutting intervals, by an average of 4 t ha-l when the grass was included (1 0.6 and 6.6 t ha-1yr-1). Siratro yield increased by an average of 225 kg ha-l yr-1 for each week extension of the cutting interval. Associated with this increase was a decline in weed yield and an increase in the percentage of Siratro. Cutting at 15 cm reduced total yield by 2.44 t ha-1 yr-1 compared with cutting at 7.5 cm, but only reduced Siratro yield at the 12 and 16 week cutting intervals. In the plots cut to 7.5 cm every four weeks Siratro declined in yield over three years and was replaced by invading white clover. Siratro density was reduced in the grass-legume plots to one third of that in the corresponding legume plots. In both pastures, Siratro density increased linearly as cutting interval increased but was not affected by cutting height. Grass density also increased linearly with cutting interval up to 12 weeks but then declined sharply when cut every 16 weeks. This decline was attributed to the very heavy shading by the associated Siratro. There were large residual effects of cutting interval on total and Siratro yield which were associated with plant density and plant vigour.

The effect of lime and phosphate on soils and sown species in the Falkland Islands

1981 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. McAdam
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Festuca Rubra ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Improved Pasture

SUMMARYExperiments to determine the effects of a range of applied lime and phosphate treatments on the establishment of species and the subsequent herbage production in the first and second seasons following sowing on four sites in the Falkland Islands are described and the results discussed.Festuca rubra, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis established, successfully yielding up to 4·5 t D.M./ha per year with inputs of 55 kg N, 50 kg P and 20 kg K/ha. Applied P increased the yield of herbage and produced a small, though significant, increase in P status of the soil.The lowest level of applied lime (0·63 t/ha) increased the soil pH to 5·0 and although this did not affect the yield or botanical composition of the grass component of the sward it did affect the presence and nodulation of white clover.The problems of establishing white clover are presented in view of the severe limitations on the use of lime and fertilizer in the Islands. The implications of grazing this improved pasture are discussed in relation to increased pasture production and improved soil fertility.

Establishment studies VI. The effect of method of establishment on long-term leys in the first harvest

1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
A. H. Charles
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Weed Growth ◽  
Harvest Year

1. The method of establishment markedly affected the yield of red clover in the first harvest year, the highest yield being obtained when a cover crop was used, in the absence of which red clover yield was reduced by frequent grazing during establishment. White clover made little growth in the first harvest year; the yield was best without a cover crop under frequent grazing during establishment.2. Nitrogen applied in the seed bed did not affect the growth of red clover in the first harvest year, but depressed the white clover under infrequent defoliation without a cover crop. There was no significant effect under the other management.3. The total yield of red and white clovers was lower, when sown with the rapidly establishing ryegrass or ryegrass-dominant general-purpose mixtures, than with cocksfoot or timothy mixtures. Weed growth, although not prominent, was far greater in the timothy and cocksfoot swards than in those based on ryegrass.4. A close parallel existed between the growth of red clover and the dry matter and yield of crude protein. The highest figures were recorded when management during establishment had favoured the growth of the red clover.5. Nitrogen applied in the seed bed reduced the percentage of crude protein in all mixtures in the spring and autumn grazings, and in the hay crop of the first harvest year. Management which encouraged the growth of red clover increased the crude protein percentage of herbage in the spring and autumn, but depressed it in the aftermath cut.6. A number of interactions occurred when the relative yields of dry matter and crude protein of mixtures in the first harvest year were modified by treatments applied during establishment. There are significant indications that the method of establishment is a factor to be considered in evaluating various mixtures.

Long-term effects of improvement methods on Molinia caerulea dominant rough grazing on wet hill land. 1. Pasture production, quality and botanical composition

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Basic Slag ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Molinia Caerulea

SummaryFifteen treatments were applied in 1966 to Molinia caerulea dominant rough grazing on wet hill land at 305 m in mid-Wales. Improvement methods varied from controlled sheep grazing, application of lime, basic slag and nitrogen to the introduction of grasses and white clover with and without cultivations. Pasture productivity, feed quality and botanical composition were studied in the 4th, 9th, 14th and 18th harvest years. Controlled grazing increased D.M. production from 1·1 t/ha on the native vegetation to 3 t/ha in the 18th year. Application of lime, basic slag and 75 kg N/ha gave mean pasture production of 4·5 t D.M./ha which increased to 6·3 t D.M./ha on application of 290 kg N/ha per year. The quickest and greatest improvement was achieved by the introduction of grasses and clover following rotary cultivation or ploughing. At the lower N input these swards produced on average 6·3 t D.M./ha. Reseeds also showed the best response to 290 kg N with mean production on S. 23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) swards of 9·0 t D.M./ha. In vitro digestibility, crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrates were also highest on the reseeded swards.Increased grazing eliminated Molinia before the 4th year and it was replaced by Nardus stricta and Festuca ovina. Subsequently, Agrostis tenuis replaced Nardus. On the swards given fertilizer the rate of botanical change was accelerated with the ingress of Poa spp., Holcus lanatus and Festuca rubra. The proportion of sown grass remained high on the seeded plots throughout the duration of the experiment but the white clover content was lower than expected and it virtually disappeared from most of the swards before the 18th year.The results show the potential improvement possible on wet hill land. Given good fertilizer and grazing management, this improvement can be maintained for several years.

scholarly journals Performance of new pasture cultivars in a hill country finishing system

1990 ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W. Webby ◽  
G.W. Sheath ◽  
C.J. Boom
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Current Returns ◽  
Improved Pasture ◽  
New Cultivars ◽  
Made In

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

scholarly journals Effects of pasture species and irrigation on milk production over four summers in the Waikato

2001 ◽  
pp. 215-221
Author(s):  
E.R. Thom ◽  
V.T. Burggraaf ◽  
C.D. Waugh ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Jersey Cows

Milk production by Jersey cows grazing a common allowance of irrigated or non-irrigated pastures over four summers (1997-2000) is described. The pastures were: (1) high-endophyte perennial ryegrass-white clover (2) tall fescue, phalaris, cocksfoot, white clover, red clover (3) same as (2) plus paspalum (4) endophyte-free ryegrass, timothy, white clover, red clover and (5) existing high-endophyte ryegrass-white clover. Irrigation improved milksolids yield by 5% over 4 years, with inconsistent effects on milk composition, no effects on pasture in vitro digestibility and nitrogen content, and usually no effect on pasture botanical composition. In 1997, cows on (1) produced the lowest milksolid (MS) yields. Cows grazing ryegrass-white clover (1 and 5) produced less than those on tall fescue-based pastures (2 and 3) (0.74 vs 0.86 kg MS/cow/day) in 1998, and the yields of cows on ryegrass/timothy-based pastures (4) were best (0.96 kg MS/cow/day). The same trends in milksolids yield occurred in 1999, except for cows on (1) which were similar to (4). Cows on existing pasture often produced the lowest milksolid yields. Trends in milksolids production over the 4 years reflected trends in total clover (red + white) contents. Keywords: cocksfoot, dairy cows, grazing, pasture quality, perennial ryegrass, persistence, phalaris, red clover, tall fescue, timothy, triple mix, volunteer ryegrass, white clover

Annual nitrogen fixation in grazed dairy pastures in south-western Victoria

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny A. Riffkin ◽  
Paul E. Quigley ◽  
Fiona J. Cameron ◽  
Mark B. Peoples ◽  
Janice E. Thies
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
15N Natural Abundance ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Fixed Nitrogen ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
On Farm

Amounts of biologically fixed nitrogen (kg N/ha) were determined in grazed dairy pastures in 3 different areas of south-western Victoria over 12 months between October 1995 and 1996 using measurements of pasture growth, botanical composition, and the 15N natural abundance of white clover (Trifolium repens) and non-legume components. Estimates of the amounts of N fixed, based on N in clover shoots, were similar in each pasture (11, 16, and 18 kg N/ha.year), despite different environmental and management conditions. These on-farm determinations were low compared with experimental studies on N fixation by white clover undertaken in New Zealand (224–291 kg N/ha.year) and elsewhere in Australia (44–135 kg N/ha). Low fixation levels were attributed to low pasture yields (average 8.2 t dry matter (DM)/ha.year) and poor legume content in the swards (average 8%). Despite this, most of the white clover N was derived from atmospheric N2 (65%), and therefore, N fixation could potentially be playing an important role in the N economy of milk production on these farms.

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