Root growth of white clover (Trifolium repensl.) lines in glass–fronted containers

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Abstract
The root system development of 5 white clover cultivars was followed for 3 yr in glass-fronted containers 1.3 m deep. Root tips were counted each month. ''Grasslands Huia'' and ''Ladino'' produced root tips most rapidly in the seedling year until the end of spring. ''Ladino'' consistently had the highest number of root tips visible in the 2nd and 3rd yr. All lines followed the same seasonal trends and produced most root tips in spring. Percentage of root tips at each 15 cm depth down the profile decreased at a similar rate for all lines. For the first 6 mo. ''Ladino'' had much shorter roots per root tip than the other lines. ''Huia'' had the highest mean number of vertically penetrating roots (counted each Feb. and Aug.) followed by ''Sweden'', ''Ladino'', ''Kent'' and ''Godley Peaks. At the completion of the study, root systems were removed and dry weighed. At all depths ''Ladino'' had the highest root dry weight, followed by Huia, ''Sweden'', ''Kent'' and ''Godley Peaks''. ''Kent'' and ''Godley Peaks'' had a significantly lower percentage of dry weight in the bottom 45 cm. An unreplicated, general comparison was made with Lotus pedunculatus Cav. cv. Grasslands Maku. Apparently, glass-fronted containers were a valuable and informative technique for distinguishing differences among white clovers.