Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 11. Subterranean and white clover on the Hokonui Hills, Southland, New Zealand

Abstract

Nine subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cultivarsand 10 whiteclover(T. repensL.) lines were evaluated i.n small plo~f?r production and persistence at a hIll country SIte In Southland. The late-flowering subterranean clovers 'Nangeela' and 'Tallarook' and the mid-season flowering 'Woogenellup' showed the highest seedlingregeneration and herbageyieldsin thefirst year. However, regeneration declined to 20% of levelsrecordedin the first year and yieldsfell from 1700to 50kg DM/haby the secondyear.Continued lowproduction wasexpected as noneof thecultivars developed hardseed. TheNewZealand whiteclover lines ('Grasslands Kopu', 'Grasslands Huia', 'GrasslandsPitau', 'Italy X NewZealand' and'Hill Country') showed the best herbage yields and persistence. The overseas lines ('Haifa', 'Tamar', 'Clarence Valley', and 'Louisiana S1') were consistently poor.Thesetypes wereunable tosustain active growth because of low stolon numbers per unit area of pasture. Re-seeding was unimportant over the evaluation period at this site.

Review: World checklist of white clover varieties II

“…Poorer appearance and survival of seedlings suggests it is less adapted to New Zealand hill country than TAHORA (Chapman & Fletcher 1985). Maintains good ground cover under hard sheep grazing but does not compete well with grass in laxly grazed swards or when hay taken (NIAB 1990;Widdup & Turner 1990). Showed higher leaf appearance and branching rate than MILKANOVA, and at the close of the season was characterised by a higher population of smaller units than MILKANOVA (Grant & Barthram 1991).…”

“…Unable to sustain active growth because of low stolon numbers per unit area of pasture in Southland, New Zealand. Had much lower stolon densities than New Zealand lines of similar leaf size (Widdup & Turner 1990). Less persistent in irrigated pastures than semiMediterranean and smaller-leaved cultivars (Anon 1991).…”

“…Had much lower stolon densities than New Zealand lines of similar leaf size (Widdup & Turner 1990). Weak vegetative persistence .…”

“…Grazing management and forage yield: Produced moderate yields in the first summer but did not sustain production in Southland, New Zealand (Widdup & Turner 1990). Poorer appearance and survival of seedlings suggests it is less adapted to New Zealand hill country than TAHORA (Chapman & Fletcher 1985).…”

“…Had first year yields similar to HUIA but poor persistence in Kaikohe, New Zealand (Rumball & Cooper 1990). Was consistently poor; unable to sustain active growth because of low stolon numbers per unit area of pasture in Hokonui Hills, Southland, New Zealand (Widdup & Turner 1990). Weak vegetative persistence ).…”