Archived
This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.
Publication Date
1993
Location
New Zealand
Description
The Comarca Lagunaera is the most important dairying region in Mexico. It is located in the semi-arid north central zone (26°N, 103°W): altitude 1100 m as!, mean annual rainfall of 220 mm, mild winters with some frosts (-4 to -6°C). The winter forages used are Italian ryegrasses and oats. Since I 985, a new forage crop, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), has been studied. Berseem clover is an annual winter legume with a high nitrogen {N) fixation capacity and yield of high quality forage. During 2 consecutive years in field experiments comparing pure stands of berseem and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and in mixtures of berseem and ryegrass, berseem outyielded the ryegrass: 14 v. 12 Mg/ha DM. The mixtures yielded as much as the berseem alone. There was more crude protein (average of the season) in the berseem and mixtures than in ryegrass alone: 250, 220 and 180 g/kg, respectively. Berseem clover did not respond to the N fertiliser, applied at 0, 80 and 160 kg N/ha over the whole season. In the mixtures, as the berseem proportion increased, the response to N decreased. This provided evidence of effective N fixation by the clover. It was estimated that berseem fixed 380-506 kg/ha of N during the season. Berseem was also compared with alfalfa hay, using a ruminal nylon bag technique. After 72 h digestion, berseem showed a higher DM disappearance rate than did alfalfa. Berseem clover produced 136 g/kg bypass protein compared with 484 g/kg from alfalfa.
Citation
Quiroga-Garza, Hector M.; Cueto-Wong, Jose S.; and Jimenez-Aceves, Julio, "Berseem Clover: A New Forage For Dairying in Mexico" (1993). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 5.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session41/5)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Berseem Clover: A New Forage For Dairying in Mexico
New Zealand
The Comarca Lagunaera is the most important dairying region in Mexico. It is located in the semi-arid north central zone (26°N, 103°W): altitude 1100 m as!, mean annual rainfall of 220 mm, mild winters with some frosts (-4 to -6°C). The winter forages used are Italian ryegrasses and oats. Since I 985, a new forage crop, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), has been studied. Berseem clover is an annual winter legume with a high nitrogen {N) fixation capacity and yield of high quality forage. During 2 consecutive years in field experiments comparing pure stands of berseem and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and in mixtures of berseem and ryegrass, berseem outyielded the ryegrass: 14 v. 12 Mg/ha DM. The mixtures yielded as much as the berseem alone. There was more crude protein (average of the season) in the berseem and mixtures than in ryegrass alone: 250, 220 and 180 g/kg, respectively. Berseem clover did not respond to the N fertiliser, applied at 0, 80 and 160 kg N/ha over the whole season. In the mixtures, as the berseem proportion increased, the response to N decreased. This provided evidence of effective N fixation by the clover. It was estimated that berseem fixed 380-506 kg/ha of N during the season. Berseem was also compared with alfalfa hay, using a ruminal nylon bag technique. After 72 h digestion, berseem showed a higher DM disappearance rate than did alfalfa. Berseem clover produced 136 g/kg bypass protein compared with 484 g/kg from alfalfa.
