Persistence of Birdsfoot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L. as Influenced by Plant Growth Habit and Grazing Management¹

Abstract

The persistence of birds foot trefoil as a pasture legume grown with Kentucky bluegrass was studied for a 6‐year period. The inclined point quadrat was used to measure changes in the trefoil stands as influenced by grazing system, species of grazing animal, and plant growth habit. Trefoil was shown to be a long‐lived perennial. Rotational grazing was necessary for trefoil persistence under grazing; the trefoil stand was sharply reduced under continuous grazing. The species of grazing animal was not a major factor in trefoil persistence. Semiprostrategrowing ‘Empire’ was found to persist slightly better than upright‐growing ‘Viking’.

Evaluation of the agronomic potential of pasture legume introductions on droughty outwash soils

“…Some cultivars are recognised as being more tolerant of soluble soil Al than lucerne although others may be only marginally so (Baligar et al 1984). It is a persistent forage legume when managed correctly (Van Keuren & Davis 1968;Leep & Tesar 1981;Scott & Charlton 1983).…”

Effect of Grazing Management on the Animal Production from Birdsfoot Trefoil Pastures1

“…The decline in the continuously grazed treatments generally was faster and reached a lower point than the rotationally grazed treatments. There was a marked decline in the trefoil stands under continuous grazing (9). There was some reduction in trefoil stands under rotational grazing also, but it appeared that the stands were stabilizing at a prodt:ctive level.…”

“…The study was conducted at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, from 1957 to 1963. Details on establishment, fertilization, management, and experimental design were presented earlier (9). The experimental animals were yearling Hereford steers and California crossbred lambs (typically from Rambouillet ewes bred by Hampshire-Suffolk crossbred rams).…”

The Genecology of Lawn Weeds

“…(Bradshaw, 1959a, b; Cynosurus cristatus L. (Lodge, 1964), Dactylis glomerata L. (Gregor and Sansome, 1927;Stapledon, 1928;Van Dijk, 1955), Lolium perenne L. (Gregor and Sansome, 1927) and Phleum pratense L. (Van Dijk, 1955); (b) other herbs, e.g, Alchemilla spp. (Bradshaw, 1963), Lotus corniculatus L. (Van Keuren and Davis, 1968), Potentilla erecta (L.) Rausch. (Watson, 1970), Pulsatilla 'vulgaris Mill.…”