Seedling appearance, survival, and development of ‘Grasslands Huia’, ‘Grasslands Tahora’, and Kent wild white clover cultivars after surface sowings in summer-moist hill country

Abstract

Abstract Seedling appearance, survival, and development of ‘Grasslands Tahora’, ‘Grasslands Huia’, and Kent wild white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars were measured in various sward treatments after 4 surface sowings on summer-moist hill country. Huia seedling appearance was greatest in all treatments except the spring 1983 sowing when Huia and Tahora were equal. Tahora seedling appearance was superior to Kent in autumn and spring 1983, and similar in autumn and spring 1982. Seedling appearance differences were largely maintained in final established plant numbers — Huia and Tahora have similar survival characteristics, and both are superior to Kent. Final mean establishment (for varying periods of observation) was 24, 31, 36, and 35% for autumn 1982, spring 1982, autumn 1983, and spring 1983 sowings respectively. There were few significant differences between cultivars in rate of seedling development. However, there was a trend toward more stolon development in Kent and Tahora than Huia in all seasons. Season had little effect on establishment characteristics, although seedling survival was significantly greater following the 1982 sowings than following the 1983 sowings. Herbicide treatment of swards before sowing did not consistently affect seedling appearance or establishment levels but did improve seedling development. The adaptation of different cultivars to hill country environments and the possibility of sward treatment × genotype interactions in establishmertt are discussed.