Publication Date
1997
Description
Mixtures of two cultivars of perennial ryegrass with contrasting growth habits and three white clover cultivars differing in leaf sizes were evaluated at two cutting frequencies to study white clover persistence. A trial was sown in 1991 on a clay soil. The plots received no nitrogen fertilizer. Throughout the years, mixtures with the large-leaved clover cv. Alice yielded significantly more herbage dry matter and had a higher clover content than mixtures with cvs. Gwenda and Retor. Companion grass cultivar did not consistently affect yield, nor botanical composition. Cutting at 2 t DM ha-1 resulted in slightly higher total annual yields than cutting at 1.2 t DM ha-1, but did not affect clover content. From 1992 to 1994 the total herbage yield DM in the mixtures declined from 12.2 to 10.5 to 8.7 t ha-1, the white clover yield from 8.7 to 6.5 to 4.1 t ha-1 and the average clover content during the growing season from 71 to 61 to 46%, whereas the grass yield increased from 3.4 to 4.0 to 4.5 t ha-1. However, in 1995 total yield increased to 11.7 t ha-1, white clover yield to 7.1 t ha-1, clover content to 61% and grass yield was 4.4 t ha-1. There were no major interactions between clover and grass cultivars.
Citation
Elgersma, A and Schlepers, H, "Persistence of Contrasting Perennial Ryegrass- White Clover Mixtures at Two Defoliation Frequencies" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 44.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session22/44
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Persistence of Contrasting Perennial Ryegrass- White Clover Mixtures at Two Defoliation Frequencies
Mixtures of two cultivars of perennial ryegrass with contrasting growth habits and three white clover cultivars differing in leaf sizes were evaluated at two cutting frequencies to study white clover persistence. A trial was sown in 1991 on a clay soil. The plots received no nitrogen fertilizer. Throughout the years, mixtures with the large-leaved clover cv. Alice yielded significantly more herbage dry matter and had a higher clover content than mixtures with cvs. Gwenda and Retor. Companion grass cultivar did not consistently affect yield, nor botanical composition. Cutting at 2 t DM ha-1 resulted in slightly higher total annual yields than cutting at 1.2 t DM ha-1, but did not affect clover content. From 1992 to 1994 the total herbage yield DM in the mixtures declined from 12.2 to 10.5 to 8.7 t ha-1, the white clover yield from 8.7 to 6.5 to 4.1 t ha-1 and the average clover content during the growing season from 71 to 61 to 46%, whereas the grass yield increased from 3.4 to 4.0 to 4.5 t ha-1. However, in 1995 total yield increased to 11.7 t ha-1, white clover yield to 7.1 t ha-1, clover content to 61% and grass yield was 4.4 t ha-1. There were no major interactions between clover and grass cultivars.
