Publication Date
1989
Description
The climate in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada is ideally suited to pasture production, with up to seven months of growing season in some areas. Moreover, many of the soils are too shallow to support deep-rooted and highly valued forages such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). However, the main limiting factor to pasture production occurs in spring where there are frequent freeze-thaw cycles, which reduce the dependability of snow cover for insulation, and this results in winter injury (Dzikowski et al., 1984). The interest in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) as a pasture species comes from the fact that naturalised forms of white clover are widespread and dominate old grazed pastures in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. Naturalized ecotypes of white clover have been shown to differ in seasonal patterns of DM yield in Nova Scotia. However these ecotypes, although winter hardy, arc not as productive in the short term compared to bred cultivars (Fraser, 1988). The only recommended cultivar in Atlantic Canada is Sacramento ladino, but its usage is limited to areas where the risk of winter kill is slight (Fraser, I 986). This paper presents selected results from field trials comparing cultivars of white clover, alfalfa and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) grown in mixtures with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.).
Citation
Fraser, Joanna and Kunelius, H T., "Performance of White Clover Cultivars in Mixtures with Orchardgrass in Atlantic Canada" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 41.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session4b/41
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Performance of White Clover Cultivars in Mixtures with Orchardgrass in Atlantic Canada
The climate in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada is ideally suited to pasture production, with up to seven months of growing season in some areas. Moreover, many of the soils are too shallow to support deep-rooted and highly valued forages such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). However, the main limiting factor to pasture production occurs in spring where there are frequent freeze-thaw cycles, which reduce the dependability of snow cover for insulation, and this results in winter injury (Dzikowski et al., 1984). The interest in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) as a pasture species comes from the fact that naturalised forms of white clover are widespread and dominate old grazed pastures in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. Naturalized ecotypes of white clover have been shown to differ in seasonal patterns of DM yield in Nova Scotia. However these ecotypes, although winter hardy, arc not as productive in the short term compared to bred cultivars (Fraser, 1988). The only recommended cultivar in Atlantic Canada is Sacramento ladino, but its usage is limited to areas where the risk of winter kill is slight (Fraser, I 986). This paper presents selected results from field trials comparing cultivars of white clover, alfalfa and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) grown in mixtures with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.).
