Companion Grass Research Articles

The effect of cutting on the proportions of perennial ryegrass and white clover in mixtures

AbstractIn two experiments with ryegrass/white clover mixtures, the proportion of clover was measured before and after cuts which removed 8‐75% of above‐ground biomass. Cutting was found to reduce the proportion of clover leaf area in the crop in both experiments, sometimes by as much as two‐thirds, and the proportion of clover dry weight, by up to half, in one of them. That is, the harvested material contained a greater proportion of clover than did the sward before the cut. This disproportionate removal of clover was due to clover having a greater proportion of its leaf near the top of the canopy than grass. It showed that preferential removal of clover occurs as a result of the purely passive selection by a mower, not only as a result of grazing by animals which may be capable of active as well as passive selection.Despite the disadvantage to clover of losing more of its leaf area than grass, and in some cases more of its dry weight also, when the mixture was cut, the clover content of the sward did not decrease during the growing season as a whole. This was because, where no nitrogen fertilizer was applied, clover had a greater relative growth rate (RGR) than its companion grass during the growth periods between cuts and this increased its percentage of the mixture. Even where nitrogen was applied, clover equalled the RGR of grass and maintained its proportion of the crop, except in one instance.

Sward Dynamics and Herbage Nutritional Value of Alfalfa‐Ryegrass Mixtures

AbstractNo grass species has proven to be well suited as a companion grass in binary mixtures with alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., over a wide range of environments and management practices. Two trials were conducted with alfalfa and perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., as binary mixtures and monocultures in Pennsylvania, USA (41 °N, 77 ° 30'W) to determine the influence of seeding rate and phenological development and tillering potential of ryegrass on sward dynamics and herbage nutritional value. The experiment was seeded on Hagerstown silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs) soil in August 1983 and 1984 to determine consistency of sward dynamics of stands seeded in different years. Field plots were harvested in late May and after 35‐d intervals in summer, and 45 d in fall. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was used to estimate botanical composition of the mixtures. Nitrogen concentration and in vitro dry matter disappearance determinations were made on freeze‐dried herbage for 2 yr from one of the two trials. Botanical composition of alfalfa‐perennial ryegrass mixtures was influenced more by ryegrass seeding rate than by alfalfa seeding rate. The influence of alfalfa and ryegrass seeding rates on botanical composition was particularly large during stand establishment and the first crop year. Alfalfa became the dominant species within 1 yr in all mixtures in both trials even when conditions heavily favored ryegrass during stand establishment. Annual yield of digestible dry matter was maximized at 9.9 Mg ha−1 when alfalfa and perennial ryegrass were seeded at approximately 15 and 11 kg ha−1, respectively. Weed content of the mixtures was inversely related to seeding rate of ryegrass.

Effects of sowing a companion grass (Lolium perenne), application of grass suppressant and choice of clover variety on the growth and seed production potential of white clover

SUMMARYThe growth and seed production potential of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) was studied in field plots in 2 years, with and without a companion grass (Lolium perenne L.). Three rates of grass suppressant, fluazifop-butyl (Fusilade), applied in early June, were compared on plots sown with the companion grass. Two clover varieties, Aberystwyth SI84 and Olwen, were compared.Sowing a companion grass reduced the amount of clover in the sward in both the first and second harvest years, but did not affect the vigour of individual clover growing points or the number of clover inflorescences when the crop was ready to be harvested for seed.Fluazifop-butyl, at the highest rate used (125g/ha), reduced the rates of leaf emergence and extension, and the numbers of reproductive tillers, in Lolium, without reducing the rate of leaf emergence in clover, although the weight per clover leaf was somewhat reduced. In the first harvest year, the numbers of SI84 inflorescences in June and July were increased by fluazifop-butyl, but the effect had worn off by harvest (24 August). Seed yield potential was not increased by fluazifop-butyl at the rates used.Olwen produced heavier leaves, but fewer leaves and fewer growing points/0·1 m2 than SI84. In the first harvest year, Olwen had fewer and smaller inflorescences than S184.It proved feasible to measure the weight of new leaf produced per week and the nett additions to stolon and inflorescence dry matter (DM). The estimate of nett addition to stolon DM was increased by increasing the number of visible internodes included in the calculation, up to the maximum number recorded (nine). The rate of leaf emergence was slower on young branches than on main axes.

Dinitrogen Fixation, Nitrogen Transfer, and Productivity of Forage Legume‐Grass Communities

The extent of N2 fixation in legume‐grass mixtures grown in the northcentral USA and the importance of legume to grass N transfer are not well understood. The objective of this 4‐yr field experiment was to determine seasonal N2 fixation and N transfer by stable isotope methods in swards of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and ladino white clover (T. repens L.) with reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Alfalfa in mixture with grass fixed the most N2 per season (82 to 254 kg N ha‐1) and ladino white clover the least (1 to 20 kg N ha‐l). For all mixtures except birdsfoot trefoil grass, N2 fixation was greatest during Year 2 of the stands. The proportion of legume N from symbiotic fixation increased progressively from Year 1 through 4 and averaged >93% for all legumes in Year 4. Legume to grass N transfer was greatest in Year 2 of the stands and averaged ≈36% of grass N across all mixtures. On a land area basis, N transfer in Year 2 ranged from 29 to 53 kg N ha‐1 and was greatest for the ladino white clover‐grass mixture. The decline in N transfer in Years 3 and 4 was associated with a loss in sward legume content, reduced whole‐plant dry matter accumulation in legume and grass, and large losses in root‐plus‐crown dry matter accumulation by grass in Year 4. The results indicate that forage legumes in mixture with grass are virtually self‐sufficient for N and can concurrently transfer appreciable N to the companion grass.

Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Populations on Soybean Relay Intercropped into Winter Wheat

Relay intercropping soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., into winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L., is an alternative to double cropping soybean following winter wheat in the more northern latitudes of the United States. Because increased crop diversity affects arthropod populations, a study was conducted to determine if a wheat–soybean cropping system might have an effect on the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), a pest of soybean. Two soybean isolines differing in their pubescence (pubescent and glabrous) were grown in monoculture and a relay intercropped system during 1987 and 1989. Potato leafhoppers were sampled with a D-Vac sampling apparatus throughout the summer. In these years, leafhopper populations were extremely high, and potato leafhopper damage was severe on glabrous soybean grown in monoculture; whereas numbers of leafhoppers were moderate and damage was absent on pubescent soybean in monoculture. Potato leafhoppers were virtually nonexistent before wheat harvest on the pubescent and glabrous soybean that were relay intercropped; no damage to either isoline was evident. Following wheat harvest and removal of wheat straw, potato leafhoppers entered those plots, causing damage to the glabrous soybean. During the time period when wheat was present, both soybean isolines were protected from feeding by potato leafhopper. The ramifications for potato leafhopper control on soybean and other crops is discussed when a companion grass crop is grown.

Evaluation of the use of a small leaved clover as an alternative to fertiliser-N on tetraploid and diploid perennial ryegrass swards grazed to controlled sward heights by ewes and lambs

Lamb performance at grass falls in July/August on upland farms. Allowing sward height to rise has been recognised as having an ameliorating effect [Keeling, 1987). The objective of this trial was to determine the influence of both sward quantity (sward height) and sward quality [sward type) on ewe and lamb performance from mid April to September. A further objective was the evaluation of clover as an alternative to nitrogen fertiliser.Three contrasting perennial ryegrass based swards were established in May 1987 for use in 1988 and 1989: a late heading diploid variety (D). CONTENDER and a late heading tetraploid variety [T) CONDESA sown alone or with S184 small leaved white clover [TO]. [D] swards represent the control being the normal upland pasture type. [T] companion ryegrass varieties have higher palatability and intake characteristics and, producing fewer tillers, are a compatible companion grass to white clover. Small leaved white clover was used owing to its higher persistency and dry matter production under continuous sheep grazing.

Insect Populations and Feeding Damage Among Birdsfoot Trefoil–Grass Mixtures Under Different Cutting Schedules

Insect populations and feeding damage among five combinations of birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L., and companion grasses were compared. Trefoil was seeded in 1983 alone and in binary combination with tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreber), orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), and timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) at two locations in West Virginia. Three cutting treatments, one three-cut schedule and two two-cut schedules, were used in 1984 and 1985. The pyrethroid cyfluthrin was applied to half of all treatments. The influence of forage mixture, cutting schedule, and insecticide on insect populations and herbage yields and quality were studied. The most abundant insects collected in biweekly sweep net samples were Cercopidae, Cicadellidae, Delphacidae, Aphididae (Homoptera), and Miridae (Hemiptera). Numbers of nymphs and adults from the five families varied among forage mixtures and cutting treatments. Cyfluthrin effectively controlled all insects except adult mirids, and biweekly insecticide application increased overall forage yields by approximately 6.0%. The effect of insects on the crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility of the trefoil and grass components of the swards did not differ consistently among the five forage mixtures but did vary among the three cutting schedules.

Comparative performance of three early-flowering red clovers under sheep grazing in Southland

Abstract Three early-flowering red clovers (Trifolium pratense L.) were evaluated under nyo grazing frequencies either as monocultures or WIth Bromus willdenowii Kunth ‘Grasslands Matua’ prairie grass or Lolium perenne L. ‘Grasslands Nui’ perennial ryegrass for herbage prorductivity and persistence. In monoculture, the diploidexpenmental hybrid G21 (released as ‘Grasslands Colenso’) and tetraploid G22 gave better cool-season growth than ‘Grasslands Hamua’. G22 gave superior spring and summer growth and persisted longer than the diploids. G21 showed more susceptibility to alfalfa mosaic virus than either Hamua or G22. With a companion grass, clover growth and persistency were higher with Nui ryegrass. G22 was inferior to G21 and Hamua when associated with either grass but was more affected by Matua prairie grass. Red clover yields were greater under infrequent grazing.

Effect of seed crop management on the potential seed yield of contrasting white clover varieties.

AbstractThree contrasting white clover varieties, Olwen (large‐leaved), Menna (medium‐leaved) and S184 (small‐leaved) were sown with and without a grass companion in 30 cm drills. Two grazing and one mechanical spring defoliation managements were imposed. Counts of the total number of inflorescences and of the percentage in various ripeness categories were made throughout the period of seed crop development to determine the pattern of inflorescence development and optimum harvest date. Inflorescence numbers were greatest in cv. S184 and least in cv. Olwen and, in general, varieties produced both more inflorescences and a greater proportion of ripe inflorescences when grown under spring defoliation managements similar to those for which they were bred. Thus, cv. Olwen produced more ripe inflorescences, and a lower proportion of brown inflorescences (semi‐ripe), after mechanical defoliation while cv. Menna produced more ripe inflorescences following mechanical defoliation and rotational grazing. However, cv. S184 produced more ripe inflorescences under both grazing managements than under mechanical defoliation. Optimum harvest date was not affected by management or variety, total inflorescence number and maximum ripe inflorescences having reached a peak on 11 September. However, varieties differed in the proportion of ripe and brown (semi‐ripe) inflorescences on this date, with cv. Menna and cv. S184 containing a significantly higher proportion of brown inflorescences than cv. Olwen, The implications of these differences in inflorescence development, the proportions of inflorescences in the various ripeness categories and their contribution to seed yield are discussed in relation to the management of white clover seed crops and harvesting method under UK climatic conditions.

Evidence for a periodic excretion of nitrogen by roots of grass-legume associations

Diurnal variation in ion content of the solution bathing roots of two plants growing together in sand culture was analysed for three pairs of grass-legume species (Lolium multiflorum andTrifolium pratense; Zea mays andGlycine hispida; Avena sativa andVicia sativa) and their monospecific controls. Biomass and nitrogen content of plants were determined. Ion concentration (NO 3 − , NO 2 − , NH 4 + , and K+) and pH of root solutions were measured for Lolium-Trifolium plant pairs and controls at 6 hours intervals over 36 h, starting at 8 am within a circadian cycle. Root solutions were regularly depleted in NO 3 − by the grasses (Lolium-Lolium control) throughout the cycle. For associations involving the legume (Lolium-Trifolium and Trifolium-Trifolium), NO 3 − depletion was followed by NO 3 − enrichment at night, from late afternoon to early morning; the enrichment was more marked for the Lolium-Trifolium association. Solutions which did not contain NO 2 − ions, were enriched by trace amounts of NH 4 + ions, largely depleted in K+ and alkalanized for all associations throughout the cycle. Repeating the experiment with the three pairs of species at the vegetative phase of development confirmed the previous results: NO 3 − enrichment during the night for associations with legumes. When the experiment was repeated with older plants which had almost completed their flowering stage, depletion only was observed and no NO 3 − enrichment. These data suggest that NO 3 − enrichment results from N excretion from active nodulated roots of the legume, accounting for the increase in both biomass and nitrogen content of the companion grass in grass-legume association. The quantitative importance and periodicity of nitrogen excretion as well as the origin of nitrate enrichment are discussed.

A comparison of the herbage productivity of Bromus wildenowii cv. Grasslands Matua with four cultivars of Lolium perenne when grown in association with Trifolium repens

AbstractIn a small‐plot trial five grass varieties bromegrass cv. Grasslands Matua, perennial ryegrass CVS. Melle (diploid) and Bastion, Condesa and Meltra (tetraploid) were established as grass/white clover swards with white clover cv. Menna. Productivity was measured under 6‐weekIy cutting both without N fertilizer (No) and with 100 kg N ha−1 applied in spring (N100) Evaluation was made over 2 harvest years, 1986–87.Total mean annual production of herbage dry matter (DM) in the first harvest year at No and No was 5·07 t ha−1 and 6·93 t ha−1 respectively. In year 2, corresponding values were 11·81 and 12·67 t ha−1. In year 1, Matua swards at No and N100 yielded 5·08 and 6·65 t DM ha−1 compared with 507 and 70 t DM ha−1 for the mean of the four ryegrass varieties. In year 2, corresponding values were 12·90 and 12·29 for Matua and 11·54 and 12·78 for the four ryegrasses. In year 1, the digestable organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) of the Matua swards was lower than that of Melle, Bastion and Condesa at NO, particularly at the first cut. In year 2, differences in DOMD between treatments and varieties were not significant.The proportion of white clover was found to be higher in the No than the N100 treatment, and also higher in year 2 in most treatments. For the No treatment Matua swards had the highest proportion of white clover in year 1 (32% compared with 24% for the mean of the ryegrass varieties) but the lowest proportion in year 2 (27% compared with 60% for the ryegrasses). For the No treatment in year 1 clover production was also 43% higher, on average, from the tetraploid treatments than with Melle as the companion grass; for this comparison in year 2 the differences were not significant.It is concluded that Matua bromegrass/white clover swards receiving no N fertilizer may have a good potential under cutting management. However, the evidence from this trial is that in the second year the proportion of white clover is lower with Matua swards than with perennial ryegrass as the companion grass.

Yield of white clover populations in mixture with contrasting perennial ryegrasses

AbstractA field experiment was established in May 1986 in which four white‐clover populations originating in Switzerland, and a bred variety, Menna, were grown in binary mixtures with their ‘co‐existing’ perennial ryegrasses and three other bred ryegrasses— Aurora, Talbot and Melle. The productivity of both components of the mixtures was measured by cutting samples in October 1986 (after establishment) and on five occasions during the growing season in 1987, Substantial differences were observed between clover yields in different mixtures, and the yield ranking of clover was found to vary with companion grass. It was concluded that the interaction between grass and clover populations originated at an early stage in sward development, being evident in both the 1986 establishment cut and the spring cut of the following year. The implications of these results for the formulation of breeding objectives and the evaluation of breeding material are briefly discussed.

Coexistence and the productivity of white clover-perennial ryegrass mixtures

Yield comparisons between five white cloverperennial ryegrass mixtures, whose individual components had previously coexisted, and a corresponding set of ten mixtures based on components that had not coexisted disclosed a yield advantage to the former group of 8.5% over a 4-year period. All five clover populations produced their highest yields when associated with their coexisting grass. The coexisting mixtures also yielded more grass in spring, probably due to the exotic origin of the majority of the companion grasses, reinforced by the nitrogen transfer process between clover and grass. The relative proportions of clover attained by the five populations was apparently unaffected by grass companion. These results are briefly discussed in the context of improving the productivity of white clover-perennial ryegrass mixtures.

Underground transfer of nitrogen between pasture plants infected with vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

SUMMARYExperiments were carried out to investigate the possibility that vesicular‐arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal infection of grass (Lolium perenne L.) and clover (Trifolium repens L.) roots can enhance the exchange of nitrogen between the root systems of nitrogen‐fixing pasture legumes and associated grasses.The results showed higher rates of transfer of 15N applied as (15NH4)2SO4 to the clover plants to companion grass plants when the roots were mycorrhizal. In some cases but not all the grass grew better in the mycorrhizal treatments.An experiment in which the clover and grass roots were separated by a 60 μm (mean pore size) nylon mesh screen showed that translocation of the nitrogen was probably along the mycorrhizal hyphae. It was not clear from the data whether transfer was mediated by a common hyphal net or some other less direct means.

Effect of grass competition, cutting frequency, and soil type on the phosphorus response of semi-natural populations of white clover

Abstract Eighteen white clover populations, collected from a variety of soils in both New Zealand and England, were grown at two or more phosphorus (P) levels in two pot experiments. The aim was to determine whether cutting frequency, grass competition, or soil type had an effect on the P response of white clover and on the differences between white clover populations in their response to P. There were significant cutting frequency × P interactions for shoot dry weight and % P and % nitrogen (N) content of shoot material. In one experiment there was a significant grass competition × soil × P interaction for shoot yields. Soil type and grass competition also influenced the P response of proportion of stolon and root. Populations differed in response to P in Experiment 1, but not in Experiment 2. There was no significant correlation between the P response of populations and the P status of their native soils in either experiment. In Experiment 1, companion grass species did not affect differences between po...

Effects of Competition upon the Productivity of White Clover‐Perennial Ryegrass Mixtures. Seasonal Trends

AbstractSeasonal trends among those characters, affecting productivity in white clover‐perennial ryegrass mixtures were investigated m a set of 20 mixtures using clover material derived from a. diallel cross between four contrasting white clover varieties. The productivity and associated vegetative characters showed the familiar pattern of high grass production in spring, and early summer, with a secondary peak of growth in autumn, whilst clover achieved its; highest productivity levels in mid‐summer. A significant linear relationship was established between clover canopy height and ryegrass canopy height for all 20 mixtures. Although no significant heterogeneity was detected among the fitted regression lines, there was an indication that the linear regressions provided a better fit to the data in those mixtures having ‘Skomer’ as the grass companion. An analysis of the differences in canopy height between ryegrass and clover indicated that the ‘Menna ‘/’S. 23’ mixture had a reduced seasonal range compared to the other mixtures. Consequently, during the early par', of the growing season, when the tallest canopies occurred and. when shading of clover by the grass was most intense, the difference in canopy height between ‘S. 23’ and ‘Menna’ was relatively low. There was a pronounced effect of grass companion upon canopy height difference, due entirely to the taller growth habit of the ‘Skomer’ ryegrass variety, These interrelationships are discussed briefly in the context of improving the productivity of white clover‐perennial ryegrass mixtures.

The productivity of four forage legumes sown alone and with each of five companion grasses

AbstractFour legumes—white clover cv. Blanca, red clover cvs Violetta (diploid) and Hungaropoly (tetraploid) and lucerne cv. Europe—were established as pure‐sown swards and with each of five companion grasses: timothy cv. Timo, meadow fescue cv. Bundy, sweet brome cv. Deborah and perennial ryegrass cvs Talbot (diploid) and Barlatra (tetraploid), both ryegrasses being of ‘intermediate’ heading date. Two ‘silage’ crops and an ‘aftermath grazing’ crop were harvested in each of three successive years.In the first harvest year, total herbage DM production of red clover ranged from 15·03 to 17·01 t ha‐1. White clover and lucerne swards produced considerably less at 7·12 to 11·01 t ha‐1. In the second harvest year, lucerne swards were the highest producing at 15·54 to 17·14 t ha‐1, while DM production from red clover and white clover swards ranged from 6·75 to 11·87 t ha‐1. Lucerne swards maintained their production superiority in the third year at 16·48 to 17·87 t ha‐1, while production from white clover swards ranged from 6·41 to 10·23 t ha‐1. However, red clover swards declined to 3·30 to 5·81 t ha ‐1; this above‐average decline was mainly caused by the onset of red clover necrotic mosaic virus which affected all red clover plots uniformly in the second harvest year, and by winter conditions before the third harvest year. Total herbage DOM and CP yields of the swards were influenced in a similar manner to DM production.

Effect of fertilizer nitrogen on six‐year‐old red clover/perennial grass swards

AbstractThree diploid red clover cultivars—Sabtoron, Violetta and Essex—and three tetraploid, Hungaropoly, Teroba and Red Head, were sown separately in pure culture and with each of three companion grasses: timothy (Aberystwyth S48), tall fescue (Aberystwyth S170) and perennial ryegrass (Aberystwyth S24).The effects of fertilizer N on yield and on clover/grass ratio over a 2‐year period (seventh and eighth harvest years) subsequent to 6 harvest years during which no N fertilizer was applied were investigated. The data for productivity and persistence have already been published (McBratney, 1981; 1984).Application of fertilizer N increased DM yields in the eighth year. In this year, the highest yield, 11·9t ha‐1, averaged over the six clover cultivars, was given in association with tall fescue. Tall fescue contributed 90% of this yield. Clover content continued to decrease in all swards but the decrease was greatest in the swards receiving fertilizer N. The yield of clover DM averaged over the six cultivars under N treatment declined from 5·6t ha‐1 in the seventh year to only 0·4t ha‐1 in the eighth year.The results from this trial demonstrate the potential of red clover sown either pure or in mixture with a suitable perennial grass, to maintain high output of quality herbage over a 6‐year period without the aid of fertilizer N. They further demonstrate that following decline in red clover content, both herbage yield and quality may be restored by the application of N fertilizer, particularly where the clover was seeded with a highly productive companion grass.

Effects of Competition upon the Productivity of White Clover‐Perennial Ryegrass Mixtures. Analysis of and Interrelations between Characters

AbstractA diallel crossing programme amongst tour contrasting white clover varieties was used to generate material for studying the interrelationships amongst those characters which affect the productivity of white clover‐ perennial ryegrass mixtures under a cutting‐only management regime. Such a regime favoured clover growth. All the clover characters exhibited strong positive correlations with mixture yield. However, this combination of clover characters did not promote growth of the grass companion. For this a low growing variety with a dense stolon network appeared preferable. Path analysis indicated that differences existed between the two companion grass varieties used for this experiment in their upon clover characters.

Growth and persistence of Mediterranean genotypes of midseason-late maturing subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in Victoria

Forty-two midseason-late maturing subterranean clover genotypes from the Mediterranean basin, 12 commercial cultivars, 2 bulk treatments and a blank control were sown in small plots in 1983 at the Pastoral Research Institute, Hamilton, Vic. (10.5 m2), and at the Rutherglen Research Institute, Rutherglen, Vic. (7.0 m2), to assess seasonal yield and persistence over 3 years. Perennial ryegrass cv. Ellett was sown as a companion grass at Hamilton. At both sites, but particularly at Hamilton, several genotypes were identified which showed considerable improvement over commercial cultivars. Some genotypes, although late maturing, were as productive as the best commercial cultivars in autumn and winter (e.g 2.06-2.38 t DM/ha) and were also highly productive (e.g. 3.46-3.94 t DM/ha) in spring (e.g. CPI 89822 H, 89774 F [Sardinia], 68103 H [Portugal] and GF 073.2 [Corsica] at Hamilton and CPI 89880 F, 89855 G, 89880 J [Sardinia] and GF 144.3 [France] at Rutherglen). Seed production of some genotypes was superior to that of the commercial cultivars (P= 0.01). Trikkala, Larisa and Karridale were the cultivars with the largest seed banks at both sites at the end of the third year. Nine of the 13 genotypes measured had seed banks at least as large as Trikkala (36 1 kg/ha) at Hamilton (e.g. 89774 F, 431 kg/ha; 89777 C, 402 kg/ha). All 10 genotypes measured at Rutherglen had seed banks at least as large as Karridale (1298 kg/ha) (e.g. 89880 J, 1717 kg/ ha; and 89820 D, 1578 kg/ha). As a result of this work and similar studies in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania, 13 late-maturing genotypes have been chosen for advanced evaluation prior to cultivar release about 1990.