The perennial pasture legume tedera has the same requirement for phosphorus and is more efficient in using potassium and sulfur when compared to subterranean clover

Critical P, K and S Concentrations in Soil and Shoot Samples for Optimal Tedera Productivity and Nodulation

“…With regards to K-efficiency, our results indicate that Lanza ® reached peak productivity with soil K concentrations around half of that of lucerne. While Hardy, Brennan and Real [19] did not compare the K response of tedera to lucerne, they did find that tedera was more K-efficient than sub-clover cv. Narrikup.…”

“…In a study by Nazeri, et al [18], adding P to a soil with a moderate level of P did not affect the biomass of any of the pasture species studied, including tedera. In terms of toxicity, there are indications that high levels of P will elicit reduced biomass in tedera in a similar manner to comparable pasture legumes [17,19], and high rates of added P also resulted in a decrease in total and individual nodule biomass [20]; however, the levels at which P oversupply limits nodulation or growth have not been established.…”

“…The K requirements of tedera have not been compared to perennial pasture legumes, but a comparison between Lanza ® tedera and the annual legume sub-clover cv. Narrikup (Trifolium subterranean L.) found that tedera required substantially less K to attain optimal yield [19].…”

“…500 mg kg −1 S in cucumber and tomato [25]), and toxicity is rare in agricultural soils [26]. Hardy, Brennan and Real [19] found that the sulphur requirement of tedera appeared to be low. Despite being considered nutrient-deficient in an agricultural context, the field soil they used was apparently high enough in S (3.5 mg kg −1 ) for maximum production in tedera.…”

“…These critical concentrations can be compared to samples of soil or plant material taken from growing areas. While Hardy, Brennan and Real [19] provide some information on ideal tissue nutrient concentrations for P, K and S, they do not provide information on soil nutrient concentrations that allow for this productivity, and scarce information on nutrient excess is only available for P. Similarly, Pang, Ryan, Tibbett, Cawthray, Siddique, Bolland, Denton and Lambers [17],Pang, Tibbett, Denton, Lambers, Siddique and Ryan [20] did not report the Colwell extractable P in their treatments after the addition of P, and the first lowest level of added P was rather high, so the application of this information to field soils is difficult. In addition, there is no information on the productivity response of tedera to fertiliser in an agricultural context; hence, this article seeks to address these gaps by fertilising tedera swards in field conditions and testing a very wide range of soil nutrient concentrations in a glasshouse, seeking to include both deficient and toxic levels of P and K.…”