Description
Over four years, sowing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a range of subterranean clover (“sub clover”, Trifolium subterraneum) cultivars was found to reduce the yield of clover per se by 31% and increase pasture yield by 11%. For one high-producing experimental variety, the presence of grass did not reduce clover yield (P<0.001). Clover yield in monoculture plots was poorly correlated with that measured in mixed swards (r = 0.44), but clover yield (± grass) was correlated with total herbage yield (r = 0.94). Clover seed yield was not reduced by the presence of grass. However, in year 2 - but not in the establishment year - grass reduced seed weight. Irrespective of grass treatment, the new late maturing cultivar, Leura outyielded the other commercial cultivars (P<0.05). Enfield and Enfield x Daliak crosses set the most seed and regenerated with a greater density than other cultivars (P<0.05) - apart from Leura. It was concluded that the winter-active, late maturing cultivar, Leura, will compete most successfully with perennial ryegrass.
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Evaluating Cultivars of Subterranean Clover in Monoculture or with Perennial Ryegrass
Over four years, sowing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with a range of subterranean clover (“sub clover”, Trifolium subterraneum) cultivars was found to reduce the yield of clover per se by 31% and increase pasture yield by 11%. For one high-producing experimental variety, the presence of grass did not reduce clover yield (P<0.001). Clover yield in monoculture plots was poorly correlated with that measured in mixed swards (r = 0.44), but clover yield (± grass) was correlated with total herbage yield (r = 0.94). Clover seed yield was not reduced by the presence of grass. However, in year 2 - but not in the establishment year - grass reduced seed weight. Irrespective of grass treatment, the new late maturing cultivar, Leura outyielded the other commercial cultivars (P<0.05). Enfield and Enfield x Daliak crosses set the most seed and regenerated with a greater density than other cultivars (P<0.05) - apart from Leura. It was concluded that the winter-active, late maturing cultivar, Leura, will compete most successfully with perennial ryegrass.
