Evaluation of clovers in dry hill country 6. Subterranean and white clovers at Wairakei, New Zealand

Abstract

Nine subterranean clover cultivars and 11 white clover lines were evaluated for persistence and production, under a combination of rotational grazing or cutting, for 4 years on rolling pumice hill country. The most successful subterranean clover cultivar was ‘Tallarook’, which for 4 years produced the most dry matter (DM) (average 700 kg DM/ha per year) and accumulated the largest soil seed reserve (1500 kg seed/ha). Soil moisture stress over the summer severely limited persistence and hence production of all white clovers (average 400 kg DM/ha per year). Persistence was not assured by larger roots associated with large-leaved lines. Hill country types (e.g., ‘Whatawhata Early Flowering’) with a high stolon density and/or free seeding ability were the best adapted to this environment.

Keywords:

• subterranean clover
• Trifolium subterraneum
• white clover
• Trifolium repens
• hill country
• production
• establishment
• persistence