Performance of 4 white clover populations in monoculture and with ryegrass under grazing

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Abstract
Herbage accumulation and botanical composition of pastures containing 4 morphologically-contrasting white clovers (Kent wild white, Southland uncertified, ‘Grasslands Huia’, and ‘Grasslands Pitau’) are described. The clovers were grown in monoculture and in association with either ‘Grasslands Ruanui’ or ‘Nui’ perennial ryegrass under grazing frequencies of 4 and 6 weeks. Clover production in monoculture and mixtures was least from the small-leaved Kent, intermediate for medium-leaved clovers, and greatest from the largeleaved Pitau. Kent was inferior in all seasons, whereas the superiority of Pitau reflected good autumn-winter growth. In all mixtures, the ryegrass and clover components showed improved production under infrequent grazing for all seasons. Within a grazing frequency, pastures containing Kent produced the lowest clover yields but had the largest associated grass yields, whereas pastures containing the larger-leaved Pitau showed the converse. This compensatory effect resulted in the pasture mixtures producing similar total herbage. Differences in grass/clover compositions were related to the morphology of clover types. This has implications for competitive effects in grass/clover mixtures and for nutrient cycling in pastures. A desirable clover type would incorporate the potential to produce large quantities of nutritious feed and the ability to support an efficient transfer of nutrients to grasses, thus ensuring a reliable distribution of herbage yield.

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