Caucasian clover was more productive than white clover in grass mixtures under drought conditions

Abstract

<jats:p>This experiment compared the productivity of caucasian or white clover when established with five perennial grass species over 6 years in a dry lowland environment. Hexaploid 'Endura' caucasian clover or 'Grasslands Demand' white clover were sown in December 1994 with high endophyte 'Yatsyn' perennial ryegrass, 'Grasslands Wana' cocksfoot, 'Grasslands Advance' tall fescue, 'Grasslands Gala' grazing brome, or 'Grasslands Maru' phalaris into a deep, fertile silt loam. Initial establishment of clovers was poor with ryegrass and grazing brome. Some volunteer white clover established in all 10 treatments. After the first 14 months, no irrigation was applied over the following 4 years. Sheep grazed plots about six times each year. The legume cover in 15-month-old pastures was higher when sown with white clover (29%) than caucasian clover (21%) but dry conditions during 1997/1998 (60% of 680 mm mean annual rainfall) and 1998/1999 (66% of mean rainfall) decreased the percentage of legume in white clover pastures. In February 1998 and March 1999, legume contributed 37% and 21% of the dry matter (DM) in caucasian clover pastures, but only 4% and 1% in pastures sown with white clover. Rainfall during the sixth season (1999/2000) was more favourable (111% of mean rainfall). Total DM production from July 1999 to June 2000 was 10.0 t DM/ha from caucasian clover pastures and 8.7 t DM/ha from pastures sown with white clover. The mean proportion of legume in white clover pastures ranged from 9% when sown with ryegrass and phalaris to 1% with cocksfoot. In contrast, mean caucasian clover legume contents were similar across all grass treatments at 20%, but reached 46% with cocksfoot during summer. It was concluded that caucasian clover is more tolerant of summer moisture stress than white clover when in association with perennial grass species. Keywords: botanical composition, Bromus stamineus, Dactylis glomerata, legume content, Lolium perenne, moisture stress, pasture production, Phalaris aquatica, Schedonorus phoenix syn. Festuca arundinacea, Trifolium ambiguum, T. repens</jats:p>

Persistence and Spread of Kura Clover in Cool‐Season Grass Pastures

“…Kura clover increased and achieved stable plant densities of greater than 80% in both planting years, whereas stands of other legumes began to decline by the end of the trials. This pattern of relatively slow establishment followed by robust stand development in kura clover has been reported in different management schemes and environments in Minnesota (Sheaffer and Marten, 1991), Michigan (Leep et al, 2002), and New Zealand (Black and Lucas, 2000). Red clover stands were relatively stable (Tables 3 and 4) in both plantings through the 2000 growing season (three growing seasons after the 1997 planting and two growing seasons after the 1998 planting) and then declined beginning with the 2001 growing season.…”

“…Kura clover, a rhizomatous perennial, has shown promise for longevity in pastures of the north‐central USA (Sheaffer et al, 1992). Exceptional winterhardiness, tolerance to drought (Black and Lucas, 2000; Watson et al, 1998), and tolerance to frequent defoliation (Peterson et al, 2002; Peterson et al, 1994a) have increased interest in the potential of kura clover as a component in pasture‐based livestock production systems. These characteristics are linked to its extensive, root–rhizome complex (Peterson et al, 1994b).…”

Suppression of annual grass weeds by AR542 endophyte infection in dryland tall fescue pastures

“…The greater suppression of vulpia by Caucasian than white clover is surprising given the negligible differences between white and Caucasian clover in cover (Table ) and growth (Tozer et al 2007). However, Caucasian clover is more drought tolerant than white clover (Black & Lucas 2000), most likely because of its deep tap root and superior ability to access moisture. This may enable Caucasian to deprive vulpia of moisture in the shared root zone to a greater extent than white clover and suppress vulpia, especially as vulpia is shallow rooted (Jurjavcic et al 2002).…”

Revealing the full-length transcriptome of caucasian clover rhizome development

“…These secondary metabolites are crucial for plant growth [37]. Similar to the rhizome of other plants (Oryza longistaminata, Miscanthus lutarioriparius) [15,8], some basal metabolism has an important role in the rhizome of caucasian clover, for example, carbon metabolism (1,389) and starch and sucrose metabolism (1,189).…”

“…Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.Bieb.) also known as Kura clover, is low-crowned perennial legume that is strongly rhizomatous [1]; the species originates from the region encompassing Caucasian Russia, eastern Turkey and northern Iran [2]. Caucasian clover has deep, semi-woody, usually branched main roots, and many branched roots grow new plantlets, either at the ends or nodes [3][4][5].…”