Reproductive development of four top flowering annual clovers

Abstract

Arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum L.) is a late maturing annual legume which has the potential to be used in a range of farming systems such as finishing lambs through to silage production and building soil fertility for future cropping. An experiment at Lincoln University, Canterbury, evaluated the performance of 'Arrotas' arrowleaf clover relative to white and subterranean clover from 23 May to 20 December 2007. By the 20/12/2007, 'Arrotas' produced 9800 kg DM/ha compared (P<0.001) with 3370 kg DM/ha from subterranean and 1790 kg DM/ha from white clover. Metabolisable energy in late December was similar for all clovers. Results in Australia at similar latitudes and rainfall regimes to parts of the North and South Island of New Zealand suggest that 'Arrotas' could be successfully incorporated into local dryland systems.

Dry matter yield and radiation use efficiency of four autumn sown top flowering annual clovers

“…This was reflected in the lower radiation use efficiency compared with balansa clover. Gland clover crops were also the earliest to flower (Figure 1; Nori et al 2014) and mature seed was produced while other species were still in full flower. Gland clover did not maximise the potential spring growing season and matured too early to take advantage of all of the available soil moisture before the summer dry.…”

“…For each sowing date, air temperatures were monitored from seedling emergence to full flower through a sensor placed at the experiment site. Temperatures were recorded every hour with a HOBO data logger to determine daily maximum and minimum temperatures for thermal time calculation (Nori et al 2014). For each sowing date, air temperatures were monitored from seedling emergence to full flower from a sensor placed at the experiment site.…”

“…Later flowering crops have prolonged vegetative growth and therefore are expected to produce more dry matter than early flowering crops. Nevertheless, the time of flowering in annual clovers is dependent on the date when the seeds are sown (Monks et al 2010;Nori et al 2014). In addition, the survival of annual species is determined by the ability of seeds to regenerate populations in the following season.…”

Availability of seed for hill country adapted forage legumes

“…It has a high hardseed level so seed may need to be dressed up a large proportion of sown pasture mixes. The slow to see in a pasture mix in autumn until increasing daylengths in spring lead to rapid extension of its hollow palatable stem (Nori et al 2014).…”

“…It has an extremely hard seed coat and requires hot, dry summers to ensure seed coat cracks so it can regenerate (Nori et al 2015b). It is small seeded and requires close contact to soil surface at time of sowing, and can to be sensitive to competition from existing vegetation, requiring Group C rhizobia (Nangul et al 2013;Nori et al 2014). Seed is imported (Table 1) from Australia and 'Prima' is the main cultivar in the market place (Stewart et al 2014).…”