scholarly journals Annual dry matter, metabolisable energy and nitrogen yields of six dryland pastures six and seven years after establishment

Author(s):  
A. Mills ◽  
D.J. Moot

Dry matter (DM) yields, botanical composition, liveweight production and pasture quality of six grazed dryland pastures established in 2002 at Lincoln University, Canterbury, are reported for Years 6 (2007/08) and 7 (2008/09). Lucerne (Medicago sativa) yielded 14.0 t DM/ha/yr and sheep liveweight (LW) production totalled 903 (2007/08) and 1 141 kg/ha/yr (2008/09). Metabolisable energy (ME) on offer (~134 GJ/ha/yr) and N yield (>500 kg/ha/yr) from the lucerne exceeded those of grass-based pastures. Yields (9.8- 11.2 t DM/ha/yr) and liveweight production (814-912 kg/ha/yr) from cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) pastures established with subterranean (Trifolium subterraneum) clover were greater than all other grass-based pastures. Annual ME was 79-96 GJ/ha and N yield was 269- 316 kg/ha from the cocksfoot, subterranean clover and volunteer white clover (T. repens) components. For Year 7, the contribution of unsown weeds and grasses in cocksfoot-based pastures was ~28% of total annual yield compared with 55% in ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/ white clover pastures. Consequently, the ME and N yields from sown pasture components in ryegrass/white clover pastures were lower than those from cocksfootbased pastures. These results indicate dryland farms with lucerne and/or cocksfoot/sub clover pastures can produce higher DM yields from more persistent pasture species. Persistence led to more ME and N on offer to grazing livestock, which resulted in higher liveweight production than from the ryegrass pastures. Keywords: balansa clover, Caucasian clover, growth rates, pasture quality, T. ambiguum, T. michelianum

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 193-200
Author(s):  
D.J. Moot ◽  
A.D. Black ◽  
W.R. Scott ◽  
J. Richardon

Seeds of five cultivars of subterranean clover, together with one of white clover, were sown in a wide range of temperature regimes under both controlled environment and field conditions. Results were consistent across temperature regimes and showed that the first trifoliate leaf emerged after 230 °Cd for all subterranean clover cultivars and 309 °Cd for the white clover cultivar. For subterranean clover, exponential leaf appearance commenced after 434 °Cd at the six total leaf stage. At this time, subterranean clover can be defoliated without causing permanent physical damage to seedlings. The field study at Lincoln University showed that subterranean clover that germinated in March produced 44 kg DM/ha/day for 158 days to yield approximately 7 000 kg DM/ha by mid-September. Subterranean clover that germinated in May produced 15 kg DM/ha/day for 120 days to yield only 1 800 kg DM/ha by mid September. These results are discussed in relation to the time of autumn grazing management for subterranean clover, including extrapolation to other climatic areas of New Zealand. Key words: herbage yield, phyllochron, seedling establishment, thermal time, Trifolium subterraneum, T. repens, white clover


Author(s):  
J.M. Mcgrath ◽  
J.W. Penno ◽  
K.L. Davis ◽  
R. Wrenn

The nutritional value of pasture silage made in New Zealand is often sub-optimal for lactating dairy cows. As farming systems require more pasture silage to be used in an attempt to increase lactation lengths and milksolids production per cow, the quality of this silage becomes more important. In spring 1995, pastures were closed for silage at weekly intervals from 11 September to 17 October, representing six distinct closure dates, to determine the effect that date and length of closure has on pasture quality. In spring 1997 pastures were grazed to different residuals (1.2- 1.4, 1.8-2.0, 2.1-2.4 and 2.5-2.9 t DM/ha) and then closed for silage to determine the effect that post grazing residual has on pasture quality. In both experiments pasture dry matter (DM) yield and chemical and botanical composition was monitored over the 63 day closure. Pasture closed on 11 or 17 September had higher metabolisable energy (ME) (P


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 (4) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAE Lattimore ◽  
HG Beecher ◽  
KL O'Callaghan

Four temperate clovers were grown on a typical rice-growing soil in the Murrumbidgee Valley, New South Wales, to assess their establishment and early growth potential. Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum var. yanninicum) cv. Trikkala, Persian clover (T. resupinatum) cv. Maral, balansa clover (T. michelianum var. balansae) cv. Paradana, and white clover (T. repens) cv. Haifa were sown immediately following a rice crop in autumn of 3 consecutive years. Seven sowing methods were compared, including combinations of surface or drill sowing with land preparation techniques commonly used in rice-farming systems. All cultivars established successfully. Trikkala had the best establishment on the basis of per cent seed sown in year 2, and equal best in years 1 and 3, although Paradana and Maral had higher plant densities at the sowing rates used. Paradana and Maral produced the highest dry matter yields and Haifa the lowest (P<0.05) in the growing period to mid-spring. Sowing method strongly influenced (P<0.05) both establishment and yield of clover. Sowing into a dense rice canopy before harvest severely restricted clover performance, while harvesting rice before sowing greatly improved (P<0.05) clover establishment and dry matter production. Establishment from surface sowing was generally more successful than from drill sowing, although yields with both methods were mostly satisfactory. Establishment and yields were highest after burning stubble, but this effect was variable and not always significant. Sowing after cultivation was not successful, especially in the 2 wetter years, due to poor seedbed preparation and waterlogging.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.


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.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tang ◽  
L. Barton ◽  
C. Raphael

The capacity of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Clare), medic (Medicago murex Willd. cv. Zodiac), serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot. line SP1/13), biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L. line Mor99), and woolly clover (Trifolium tomentosum L.) to acidify soil under N2 fixation was compared in a pot experiment using a poorly buffered sandy soil. The amount of acid produced per kg shoot dry matter (specific acid production) varied betweefin species and with growth stages, ranging from 44 to 128 cmol/kg shoot. Subterranean clover and serradella acidied soil to a greater extent than woolly clover and medic, whereas biserrula acidified soil least. Irrespective of pasture species and growth stage, specific acid production correlated well with concentrations of excess cations and calcium in shoots. Furthermore, total excess cation, ash alkalinity, and calcium in shoots were all good indicators of total acid production across all of the species.


1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 893 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC Edmeades ◽  
FPC Blamey ◽  
CJ Asher ◽  
DG Edwards

Ten temperate pasture legumes inoculated with appropriate rhizobia were grown for 31 days in flowing solution culture. Solution ionic strength was approximately 2700 8M and contained inorganic nitrogen (150 , 8M NO3-) only at the commencement of the experiment. Solution pH was maintained at 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0. Also, five aluminium (Al) treatments were imposed, with nominal Al concentrations of 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 8M (2.5, 7.1, 8.3, 11.2 and 24.7 8M Al measured) at pH 4.5. Solution pH <6 . 0 markedly reduced total dry mass (TDM) in all cultivars of white clover (Trifolium repens) cvv. 'Grasslands Pitau, Huia, G18 and Tahora' and red clover (Trifolium pratense) cvv. 'Grassland Turoa and Pawera', and to a lesser extent in the two subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cvv. 'Tallarook and Woogenellup'. In contrast, solution pH had no effect on the growth of Lotus corniculatus cv. Maitland, while Lotus pedunculatus cv. Maku grew best at pH 4.5. Lotus pedunculatus cv. Maku grew best in solution where the sum of the activities of the monomeric Al species {Alm} was maintained at 5.9 8M. The growth of all other species was decreased with Al in solution, a 50% reduction in TDM being associated with c. 6 8M {Alm] for white clover and subterranean clover, and c. 3 8M in red clover and Lotus corniculatus cv. Maitland.


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.


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