Dinitrogen fixation and nitrogen transfer among red clover cultivars

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important perennial forage legume used for hay or as pasture in crop rotations. Despite its traditional usage as a source of nitrogen (N) for cropping systems, little information is available on the amounts of atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) that red clover fixes or transfers to an associated grass during long-term stands. Field research was undertaken in 1989 and 1990 to compare N2 fixation and N transfer potentials of one experimental and three common red clover cultivars seeded in binary mixtures with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Dinitrogen fixation and N transfer were estimated by 15N isotope dilution using orchardgrass pure stands as a reference. Over the 2-yr study, percentage legume N derived from N2 fixation ranged from 96.4 to 96.7% among the red clover cultivars. Total-season fixed-N yields in red clover herbage ranged from 72.6 to 159.2 kg ha−1. Dinitrogen fixation and fixed-N yields usually did not differ among red clover cultivars in either year. Percentage N in orchardgrass herbage derived from N2 fixation by red clover ranged from 43.7 to 70.5%. Total-season transferred-N yields in orchardgrass herbage was 16.9 kg ha−1 in 1989 and 57.8 kg ha−1 in 1990. Neither N-transfer nor transferred-N yield differed among cultivars in either year. It is concluded that, under the conditions of this study, the red clover cultivars tested generally did not differ in their abilities to fix atmospheric N2 or to transfer fixed-N to associated orchardgrass. Key words: Red clover, Trifolium pratense L., dinitrogen fixation, nitrogen transfer, isotope dilution

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Étude de l'influence des réserves azotées dans l'estimation par 15N de la fixation symbiotique d'une plante pérenne, Trifolium pratense

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b85-134 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 991-994

Author(s):

Chantal Lescure ◽

Alain Chalamet

Keyword(s):

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Control Plant ◽

Red Clover ◽

Good Control ◽

Dinitrogen Fixation ◽

Dilution Technique ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Perennial Legumes ◽

Kinetics Of

A 15N dilution technique is proposed to determine the role of nitrogen reserves in the plant on the estimation of dinitrogen fixation, during regrowth of perennial legumes. It is based on labelling of nitrogen compartments of the plant. Since the kinetics of utilization of nitrogen reserves of ryegrass (Lolium italicum L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) appear similar, ryegrass would be a good control plant. Despite this observation, the comparison of two methods (based on two or three sources of nitrogen) to estimate dinitrogen fixation shows the difficulty in applying the technique using 15N-labelled substrate over earlier periods of regrowth. In this case, the 15N method described for determining symbiotic dinitrogen fixation could be applied in controlled conditions.

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The communities of fungi occurring in the red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and red clover with cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivations on the lowland

Acta Mycologica ◽

10.5586/am.1979.005 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 61-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wanda Truszkowska ◽

Barbara Kalińska

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Dactylis Glomerata ◽

Red Clover ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Knowledge of fungal communities within cultures of clover planted into barley and clover with cocksfoot grass may be used to evaluate the antiphytopathogenic potential of the environment. Observation of the lack of common pathogenic fungi and the sensitivity of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> populations to agroecological conditions indicates the possibility of influencing the healthiness of the clover by agrotechnical methods.

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A COMPARISON OF PROTEIN DEGRADATION DURING WILTING AND ENSILING OF SIX FORAGE SPECIES

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps83-114 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 903-912 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Y. A. PAPADOPOULOS ◽

B. D. McKERSIE

Keyword(s):

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Proteolytic Enzymes ◽

Red Clover ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Protein Hydrolysis ◽

Protein Nitrogen ◽

Forage Species ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Medicago Sativa L ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Protein hydrolysis was examined during wilting and ensiling of first and second cut herbage of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.). During a 24-h wilting period, protein was hydrolyzed to soluble non-protein nitrogen (SNPN) more extensively in first cut than in second cut herbage. In both cuts the amount of protein hydrolysis occurring during wilting was greatest in alfalfa and least in red clover. After 30 days ensiling at 30 °C, SNPN content, expressed as percent of total nitrogen, was influenced by forage species, dry matter (DM) content, and cut. The extent of protein hydrolysis during ensiling was highest in alfalfa and lowest in red clover. In first cut silages, protein hydrolysis increased with DM content, but in the second cut silages, protein hydrolysis decreased as DM content increased. The amount of protein hydrolyzed during wilting or ensiling was not correlated with plant proteinase activity measured using azocasein as substrate. Consequently, the properties of the plant proteolytic enzymes associated with each species as well as the management of the forage prior to ensiling appear to influence the extent of proteolysis.Key words: Proteolysis, silage, haylage, proteinase

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Characterizing nitrogen transfer from red clover populations to companion bluegrass under field conditions

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps2012-036 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (6) ◽

pp. 1163-1173 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. M. M. S. Thilakarathna ◽

Y. A. Papadopoulos ◽

A. V. Rodd ◽

A. N. Gunawardena ◽

S. A. E. Fillmore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Poa Pratensis ◽

Red Clover ◽

Growing Season ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Nitrogen Transfer ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

N Fixation ◽

N Transfer

Thilakarathna, R. M. M. S., Papadopoulos, Y. A., Rodd, A. V., Gunawardena, A. N., Fillmore, S. A. E. and Prithiviraj, B. 2012. Characterizing nitrogen transfer from red clover populations to companion bluegrass under field conditions. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1163–1173. The ability of two red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cultivars, AC Christie (diploid) and Tempus (tetraploid), to transfer fixed nitrogen (N) to companion bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was evaluated under field conditions. Plant samples were harvested three times during the 2009 growing season and N transfer from the red clover cultivars to bluegrass was determined using the natural abundance method for first harvest and 15N dilution techniques for second and third harvests. Soil and soil water samples were used to evaluate cultivar effects on soil N conditions. Both red clover cultivars derived more than 90% of their N from biological N fixation. The proportion of bluegrass N derived from interplant N transfer was 7, 11, and 26% for the first, second, and third harvests, respectively. Soil KCl extractable nitrate increased along the three cuts for Tempus in the 0 to 15-cm soil zone. Soil-water nitrate content increased periodically for AC Christie and remained constant for Tempus throughout the growing season. This result indicates that the two cultivars have distinctly different N cycling patterns.

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Content and deposition rates of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin during regrowth of forage grasses and legumes

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps92-097 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 809-818 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

J. E. Bidlack ◽

D. R. Buxton

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Panicum Virgatum ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Red Clover ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Limited Information ◽

Switch Grass ◽

Panicum Virgatum L ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Cell-wall (CW) components greatly influence digestibility of forages as they mature. There is only limited information on the timing of rates of deposition of CW components. This investigation examined differences in CW and CW component deposition in greenhouse-grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), birds-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Plant material was sampled from the basal 10 cm of forage after harvesting at 3–5 cm above the soil level. Samples analyzed included sheaths from orchardgrass, sheaths and stems from bromegrass and switch-grass, and stems from all legumes. After establishment and herbage removal, samples were collected biweekly between 2 and 10 wk of regrowth. Results indicated that, except for orchardgrass, maximum rates of CW and CW component deposition usually occurred earlier in legumes compared with those of grasses. Maximum CW deposition for all species occurred within 1–3 d of maximum dry weight deposition. Among CW components in grasses and legumes, maximum deposition of hemicellulose occurred first, followed by that of cellulose (1–6 d later), and then lignin (up to 14 d after maximum hemicellulose deposition). Maximum cellulose deposition in all species occurred at the same time as maximum CW deposition.Key words: Cell wall, deposition, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, forage

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Forage chicory persists in combination with cool season grasses and legumes

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p98-052 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 197-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

H. T. Kunelius ◽

K. B. McRae

Keyword(s):

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Red Clover ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Cichorium Intybus ◽

Botanical Composition ◽

Cool Season ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Medicago Sativa L ◽

Trifolium Repens L ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) was grown alone and in combination with various grasses and legumes for three production years to determine growth, botanical composition, and persistence. Chicory mixed with grasses and legumes produced greater yields than chicory alone. Mixtures of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) + white clover (Trifolium repens L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.) + alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and timothy + red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) in combination with chicory produced the highest dry matter yields. Persistence of chicory was adequate; it survived for three production years in the cold-winter region of Atlantic Canada. Including chicory in grass/legume swards improved the seasonal distribution of herbage and increased late season production. Key words: Botanical composition, Cichorium intybus L., combinations, mixtures, persistence, seasonal yield distribution

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The biology of Canadian weeds. 121. Galium mollugo L.

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p01-152 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 453-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

D. Mersereau ◽

A. DiTommaso

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Red Clover ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Forage Crops ◽

Weed Biology ◽

Melilotus Officinalis ◽

Orchard Grass ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Dactylis Glomerata L

Galium mollugo L. (smooth bedstraw) is a long-lived perennial broadleaved plant that reproduces both vegetatively and by seed. Galium mollugo can be a strong competitor in long-lived forage crops such as bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), as well as in short-lived forage crops such as red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and yellow sweet-clover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.]. It is also a problem weed in spruce plantations and re-vegetation areas. Livestock typically avoid this species, allowing it to become well-established in pastures where it outcompetes more favourable species. Moreover, G. mollugo is viewed as a successful invasive species because of its ability to colonize and proliferate in areas such as established meadows where most invasive species do not thrive. In natural meadow communities, G. mollugo is often a dominant species that is capable of colonizing areas left vacant by the death and/or displacement of other species. Under favourable conditions, G. mollugo growth and clonal expansion can increase rapidly. Galium mollugo is generally tolerant to herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPA, 2,4-DB, and dicamba. Key words: Smooth bedstraw, GALMO, Galium mollugo, Rubiaceae, weed biology, pastures

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