Interference Effects in Grass Varieties Grown as Pure Stand, Complex Mixture and Binary Mixture with White Clover

Abstract

The study aimed at: i) assessing the agronomic value of the pure stand (PS), of the complex mixture (CM) and of the binary mixture with each of six white clover genotypes (MWC) of eight grass varieties belonging to four species and contrasting for earliness of flowering; and ii) investigating the relationships of competitive abilities in CM and MWC with some morpho-physiological traits of the grass varieties. CM showed a 24 % dry matter yield (DMY) advantage over mean value of PS but did not outyield the pure stand of the best yielding component. For grass-white clover associations, the DMY advantage as Relative Yield Total over PS of the components averaged 43 %. DMY of the grass varieties averaged across MWC conditions was related positively to total DMY (r = 0.99) and negatively to associated clover DMY (r = - 0.96). Competitive abilities as Relative Yield of the grass varieties in CM and in MWC correlated (r = 0.84) and were both positively associated to DMY, canopy height and inclination of leaves in PS. The results suggested that association of white clover with a grass of moderately high vigour, intermediate earliness and relatively erect leaves may provide the best option for rotational meadows in the experiment environment.