Effects of four times of sowing on ‘Grasslands Huia’ and ‘Grasslands 4700’ white clovers

Abstract

Abstract ‘Grasslands Huia’ and ‘Grasslands 4700’ white clovers were grown at Gore from sowings made in November 1967 and February, March, and August 1968 as monocultures or associated with ‘Grasslands Ariki’ ryegrass in fertile, heavily topdressed soil. Except for February sowing, 4700 was slower establishing than Huia, and from all sowings its spread and density were less than those of Huia. In monocultures 4700 had larger leaves than Huia, but in mixed swards the difference in clover leaf size, although favouring 4700, was minimal. Herbage yields of 4700 in mixed swards became larger than those of Huia only when companion ryegrass was yielding less than that with Huia. Stronger competition for N between 4700 and ryegrass than between Huia and ryegrass is advanced as being a possible cause of reduced ryegrass yields in 10- to 18-month-old 4700 and ryegrass swards. Results of this experiment indicated that 4700 did not associate as well with Ariki ryegrass as did Huia.