Theme 02: Grass-Legume Mixtures
Description
Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.) is an alternative forage legume for rotational grazing in cool-season grass mixtures. However, compatibility with cool-season grasses is unknown. Seven cool-season perennial grasses were seeded into Kura clover in a rotational grazing experiment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate botanical composition, forage yield and quality of binary mixtures of cool-season grass with Kura clover. Field studies were conducted on a Nester (fine sandy loam) soil at Lake City Experiment Station, Lake City, MI. Botanical compositions in the first year of the study heavily favored grasses (avg. 74%) and Kura clover accounted for less than 20%. Crude protein (CP) concentration was negatively related with grass composition (r = -0.69**), however, positively related with Kura clover composition (r = 0.60**). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was superior in total forage yield and good forage quality, while reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was the least desirable species.
Included in
Compatibility of Kura Clover and Cool Season Grass Mixtures in Michigan
Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.) is an alternative forage legume for rotational grazing in cool-season grass mixtures. However, compatibility with cool-season grasses is unknown. Seven cool-season perennial grasses were seeded into Kura clover in a rotational grazing experiment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate botanical composition, forage yield and quality of binary mixtures of cool-season grass with Kura clover. Field studies were conducted on a Nester (fine sandy loam) soil at Lake City Experiment Station, Lake City, MI. Botanical compositions in the first year of the study heavily favored grasses (avg. 74%) and Kura clover accounted for less than 20%. Crude protein (CP) concentration was negatively related with grass composition (r = -0.69**), however, positively related with Kura clover composition (r = 0.60**). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was superior in total forage yield and good forage quality, while reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was the least desirable species.
