Removal of mineral nutrients by red clover varieties

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Abstract
K, P, Ca and Mg contents and uptakes are reported from total herbage of plots sown with six varieties of red clover harvested three times a year for 3 years.K, P and Mg contents were above those reported as critical for growth; values for Ca were lower than quoted ranges which suggested that growth might have been affected by either deficiency of Ca or low pH. Hungaropoly was characterized by relatively low K and P and high Ca contents. Maximum uptakes in red clover total herbages over 3 years were 1198 kg ha−1 K (Hera), 112 kg ha−1 P (Hera), 494 kg ha−1 Ca (Hungaropoly) and 104 kg ha−1 Mg (Mars). Results were compared with those found for S101 perennial ryegrass, harvested on a similar system and receiving similar fertilization with uptakes of 759 kg ha−1 K, 100 kg ha−1 P, 200 kg ha−1 Ca and 46 kg ha−1 Mg, by expressing accumulating uptakes and inputs as linear regression equations. The better varieties of red clover, Hera, Hungaropoly, Mars and S123 show rates of DM accumulation similar to S101 perennial ryegrass and similar uptake rates of K and P but higher rates of uptake of Ca and Mg.The levels of application of K and P used in the experiment seem to be more than adequate but attention to the Ca status may be required to sustain high‐yielding red clover swards.