Publication Date
1989
Description
Stolon burial as a result of earthworm activity and poaching is common on many soil types in autumn and winter. The covering of soil is thought to protect against frost and thus benefit winter survival. On heavy soils in wet conditions treading can result in stolon burial during the growing season (Grant et al., 1988). The extent to which burial at this time adversely affects clover is unknown. Urination by grazing animals deposits the equivalent of 300-600 kg N/ha locally on the sward. Since the addition of fertiliser N to mixed grass-clover swards favours grass at the expense of clover, urine could be a cause of spatial variation in clover distribution in grazed swards. The effects of stolon burial, and of urine on clover growth have been studied in two short-term experiments.
Citation
Grant, S A. and Marriott, C A., "Some Factors Causing Temporal and Spatial Variation in White Clover Performance in Grazed Swards" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session9/15
Included in
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Some Factors Causing Temporal and Spatial Variation in White Clover Performance in Grazed Swards
Stolon burial as a result of earthworm activity and poaching is common on many soil types in autumn and winter. The covering of soil is thought to protect against frost and thus benefit winter survival. On heavy soils in wet conditions treading can result in stolon burial during the growing season (Grant et al., 1988). The extent to which burial at this time adversely affects clover is unknown. Urination by grazing animals deposits the equivalent of 300-600 kg N/ha locally on the sward. Since the addition of fertiliser N to mixed grass-clover swards favours grass at the expense of clover, urine could be a cause of spatial variation in clover distribution in grazed swards. The effects of stolon burial, and of urine on clover growth have been studied in two short-term experiments.
