Abstract

1. Two experiments have been carried out on the Cambridge University Farm to test the desirability of including late-flowering red clover in the seeds mixture in the case of a 4-year ley, and to compare grazing with cutting for hay in the first harvest year.2. The majority of the red clover survived for the first 2 years, during which it increased the yield of dry matter very markedly; it did not lead to any reduction of yield in the last 2 years. By producing an early cover of the ground red clover checked the encroachment of weeds; although it reduced the proportion of wild white clover in the herbage in the later years, the reduction was not serious.3. Where the young plants were well established at the time, and normal weather conditions were experienced, grazing was definitely preferable to cutting for hay during the first harvest year. Where the plants were slow in establishing themselves, and in a superlatively dry spring and summer, grazing checked the development of the sward too much, and cutting for hay gave much better results.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call