Publication Date
1989
Description
In temperate regions, white clover (Trifoliurn repens L.) is the predominant legume in pastures, because while fixing N it is able to withstand the stresses of grazing (Brougham et al., 1978). White clover is however a poor competitor for soil phosphate (P). This is of particular significance when many soils in New Zealand and throughout the world are P deficient. Regular inputs of P fertilizer are required to maintain the vigour and productivity of this forage legume. The increasing costs of manufacture and application of P fertilizer and at the same time the general decline in demand for agricultural produce has seen a reduction in P fertilizer use. Associated with this cutback has been a decline in the use of lime. There is an urgent and pressing need to breed white clover capable of responding to lower levels of applied P and capable of utilizing cheaper less processed P fertilizer sources, and at the same time have increased tolerance to soil acidity and aluminium. In this paper the findings of three ongoing studies investigating this subject are presented and discussed.
Citation
Mackay, A D. and Caradus, J R., "White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) for Low Input Pastoral Farming Systems" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 47.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session1/47
Included in
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White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) for Low Input Pastoral Farming Systems
In temperate regions, white clover (Trifoliurn repens L.) is the predominant legume in pastures, because while fixing N it is able to withstand the stresses of grazing (Brougham et al., 1978). White clover is however a poor competitor for soil phosphate (P). This is of particular significance when many soils in New Zealand and throughout the world are P deficient. Regular inputs of P fertilizer are required to maintain the vigour and productivity of this forage legume. The increasing costs of manufacture and application of P fertilizer and at the same time the general decline in demand for agricultural produce has seen a reduction in P fertilizer use. Associated with this cutback has been a decline in the use of lime. There is an urgent and pressing need to breed white clover capable of responding to lower levels of applied P and capable of utilizing cheaper less processed P fertilizer sources, and at the same time have increased tolerance to soil acidity and aluminium. In this paper the findings of three ongoing studies investigating this subject are presented and discussed.
