Production of two rhizomatous clovers, Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum) and zigzag clover (T. medium), was assessed under a number of fertility regimes. Caucasian clover annual dry matter production was of 12 t/ha for cv. Treeline on a fertile lowland soil, 8.5 t/ha for cv. Prairie on a moderately fertile hill country soil and 2.5 t/ha for cv. Prairie on a low fertility high country soil. For a 30 year old stand of zigzag clover on a moderately fertile high country soil estimated DM yields ranged from 2 t/ha under low fertiliser applications to 10 t/ha under high fertiliser rates. The stand gave a 3.2 t DM/ha response to the addition of 50 kg/ha sulphur alone. Both clovers are very persistent and appear to remain productive for several years in the absence of fertiliser applications

Three legumes, zigzag clover (TrijXium medium), Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum) and crown vetch (Coronilla varia) are notable for their extensive vegetative spread by underground rhizomes but slow initial establishment and low seed set. The possibility of vegetative propagation was considered. A 9-year trial showed the success of transplanting rhizome fragments of different sizes under different fertiliser regimes into hieracium-dominated fescue tussock grasslands. Initial survival and establishment was influenced by fragment size and fertiliser. Subsequent growth was similar for the three species and mainly influenced by fertiliser. Keywords high country, legumes, pasture improvement, rhizome fragments

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