Publication Date
1993
Description
Growth, nitrogen fixation and animal production of pastures based on the white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars Grasslands Tabora or Grasslands Huia, and of unamended pastures containing the "resident" clover ecotype, were compared In a self-contained systems experiment on moderate to steep, low-fertility hill country. Put-andtake stocking of hoggets was used to assess animal production, with stocking rate determined by a feed budget model. Tabora- and Huiabased pastures had higher white clover contents than resident pastures over the first 3 years of measurement, and Tabora-based pastures fixed 4591, more N than resident pastures over 1 full year. Benefits in animal production from introducing Tabora were seen in summer (+18% total live-weight gain/ha compared with resident) and autumn (+59%), but not in winter or spring. Tabora-based pastures carried 9% more animals over a full year than resident or Huia-based pastures. Por most variables, the main effect of introducing Tabora was only 30-4091, as strong as the main effect of phosphate fertiliser application, Indicating that cultivar introduction cannot substitute for fertiliser at the rate of P application used in this study. II can, however, improve the returns obtained from fertiliser for a one-off cost.
Citation
Chapman, D F.; Mackay, A D.; Devantier, B P.; and Dymock, N, "Impact of White Clover Cultivars on Nitrogen Fixation and Livestock Production in New Zealand Hill Pasture" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 46.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/46
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Impact of White Clover Cultivars on Nitrogen Fixation and Livestock Production in New Zealand Hill Pasture
Growth, nitrogen fixation and animal production of pastures based on the white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars Grasslands Tabora or Grasslands Huia, and of unamended pastures containing the "resident" clover ecotype, were compared In a self-contained systems experiment on moderate to steep, low-fertility hill country. Put-andtake stocking of hoggets was used to assess animal production, with stocking rate determined by a feed budget model. Tabora- and Huiabased pastures had higher white clover contents than resident pastures over the first 3 years of measurement, and Tabora-based pastures fixed 4591, more N than resident pastures over 1 full year. Benefits in animal production from introducing Tabora were seen in summer (+18% total live-weight gain/ha compared with resident) and autumn (+59%), but not in winter or spring. Tabora-based pastures carried 9% more animals over a full year than resident or Huia-based pastures. Por most variables, the main effect of introducing Tabora was only 30-4091, as strong as the main effect of phosphate fertiliser application, Indicating that cultivar introduction cannot substitute for fertiliser at the rate of P application used in this study. II can, however, improve the returns obtained from fertiliser for a one-off cost.
