Summer and Autumn Growth of Rhizomatous Birdsfoot Trefoil

Abstract

A new population of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) with rhizomes (RBFT) has been developed for greater persistence. No study has compared RBFT with a standard, non‐rhizomatous cultivar of birdsfoot trefoil (BFT). Objectives were to: (i) compare RBFT with BFT for differences in shoot and root mass and total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration of taproots in both clipped and non‐clipped situations and (ii) describe rhizome production of clipped and non‐clipped RBFT. ‘Norcen’ BFT and RBFT were grown in field plots near Columbia, MO, in 1994 and 1995. The study had four treatments: non‐clipped RBFT, clipped RBFT, non‐clipped BFT, and clipped BFT. Each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized complete block. Plots were sampled biweekly for shoot and root mass and taproot TNC from early‐July until the first killing frost in October. In addition, length, mass, TNC, and number of rhizomes per plant were recorded for RBFT. From mid‐September until the final sampling, the shoot mass for RBFT was about half that of BFT; however, RBFT's shoot mass was less affected by clipping than was BFT's. Taproot TNC was 20 to 40 g kg−1 greater for RBFT than BFT throughout both growing seasons. Nearly all RBFT plants exhibited rhizomes by mid‐October both years. Clipping RBFT plants did not affect rhizome growth. Rhizome TNC concentration increased steadily during autumn, with a final concentration of approximately 220 g kg−1 The failure of clipping to decrease rhizome production, combined with higher levels of below‐ground TNC, may give RBFT the ability to withstand frequent defoliation.

Increasing defoliation frequency constrains regrowth of the forage legume Lotus tenuis under flooding. The role of crown reserves

“…2 and 3), a finding that concurs with previous works (Kallenbach et al 2001;Smith 1962;Striker et al 2008). This result indicates that carbon utilization from crown reserves allowed plants to compensate for leaf removal as seen in Medicago sativa cv.…”

“…In this respect, it was suggested that Lotus species are less dependent on crown reserves for regrowth than other forage legumes (i.e. alfalfa, Kallenbach et al 2001;Smith 1962). In this paper, we explore whether L. tenuis can intensively use reserves during regrowth when it is subjected to extreme carbon starvation caused by successive defoliations under flooding conditions.…”

Performance of Lotus corniculatus L. genotypes submitted to cutting interval: subsidies to a breeding program

“…Marrocos and ARS 2620 rhizomatous genotypes registered the smallest DM yield in this study, agreeing with the results shown by Kallenbach et al (2001), who also related the small yileds of rhizomatous types of birdsfoot trefoil, and 50% inferior to the genotypes without rhizomes. Group 1 showed the best agronomic attributes due to its greatest regrowth dry matter yield and to the largest number of stems, showed by the genotypes under the shortest cutting interval.…”

Caracterização morfofisiológica de genótipos de cornichão (Lotus corniculatus L.)

“…Poucos trabalhos têm sido conduzidos com estes genótipos, quanto à resposta a corte ou pastejo (Kallenbach et al, 2001). Na literatura nacional, não havia, até o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, quaisquer informações sobre a adaptação e a produção de forragem dos tipos rizomatosos.…”