Establishment, production and regeneration of subterranean clovers in the Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand

Abstract

The ‘Red Flats’ on Omarama Station in the Mackenzie Basin, has a winter cold, summer dry environment and soils with low plant available water (<60 mm in the top 1 m), and low pH(H2O) (5.2) and high aluminium (8 mg/kg) below 75 mm. The site received 3 t of lime, 300 kg sulphur-super, boron (B), molybdenum (Mo) and herbicides to eliminate hieracium (Hieracium pilosella). Twelve cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneaum), ‘Bolta’ balansa clover (T. michelianum), and perennial ‘Rossi’ red clover (T. pratense), were direct-drilled in February 2016. Over the next 3 years their frost tolerance, productivity and persistence were compared with the resident haresfoot clover (T. arvense). Balansa and the subterranean clovers all survived the 2016 and 2017 winters. The subterranean clovers maximum yield was 4.3 t DM/ ha after successful germination in February 2016 when sufficient rain extended the spring growing season into November. Subterranean clover cultivars from subspecies subterraneum yielded well in 2016, averaging 3.3 t DM/ha, as did the brachycalycinum ‘Antas’ with 3 t DM/ha. During the short season of 2017, the subterraneum ssp. cultivars ‘Denmark’ and ‘Karridale’ established the highest ground covers and ‘Antas’ the lowest. In 2018, ‘Antas’ had the lowest emergence rate and autumn yield. ‘Karridale’ had the highest re-establishment rate and the yanninicum ‘Trikkala’ the highest autumn yield (1.3 t DM/ha). Cultivars with low hardseededness ratings were the most successful at re-establishment in autumn 2017. Balansa clover was also persistent. In the favourable 2016 growing season the late-flowering resident haresfoot clover grew into early summer and yielded 3.7 t DM/ha. Red clover yielded 1 t DM/ha in 2016, but did not persist. Results suggest that medium-late flowering softer seeded subterranean clover cultivars and ‘Bolta’ balansa clover, are suitable for this environment.

Mapping groundcover of clover species in hill pastures in Wairarapa

“…In hill country pastures, soil moisture deficits, i.e., summer drought, negatively impact on the persistence and productivity of white clover (Dodd et al 2001;Knowles et al 2003). Sub clover avoids the summer-dry by remaining as a seed in the soil, but rainfall variability affects persistence (Sheath and Hay 1989) and the length of the growing season (Olykan et al 2018).…”

Dry matter yield of six perennial legume species in response to lime over 3 years at Glenmore Station, Mackenzie Basin

“…There was no production from balansa clover as it appeared unable to regenerate after seed set in the first year. Also, the regenerating resident vegetation appeared too competitive in this environment, but annual legumes have been used successfully in a slightly lower rainfall environment at Omarama Station (Olykan et al 2018). The combined mean legume yields of the balansa clover, white clover and lotus plots give an indication of the potential yield from the resident vegetation and the enhancement that has been provided by the introduction of lupins.…”

Prospects for Trifolium Improvement Through Germplasm Characterisation and Pre-breeding in New Zealand and Beyond

“…Subterranean clover is a highly self-pollinating, diploid (2 n = 16) species ( Ghamkhar et al, 2012 ; Hirakawa et al, 2016 ; Kaur et al, 2017 ). T. subterraneum is a species that is highly utilised in Australia and to a lesser extent in New Zealand ( Nichols et al, 2007 ; Lucas et al, 2015 ; Olykan et al, 2018 ). T. subterraneum is well characterised to perform in dry conditions as it buries its burrs in the soil, allowing seed development to happen underground ( Suckling et al, 1983 ; Widdup and Pennell, 2000 ).…”

“…Trials across New Zealand have been evaluated to select T. subterraneum lines that have improved persistence and dry matter production ( Dodd et al, 1995a , b , c ). Recent studies have identified Australian cultivars that are best adapted to New Zealand dryland pastoral systems ( Lucas et al, 2015 ; Olykan et al, 2018 ). However, more improvement is needed for developing cultivars that fit better to New Zealand environments.…”