Effects of early grazing on the growth and development of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of AgriScience in Agriculture at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2014
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Massey University
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Abstract
Developments in red clover cultivars have shown that persistency issues that have
limited the inclusion of red clover in New Zealand pastures in the past are now less of a
concern. The seasonality of current New Zealand pastures can lead to poor summer
production. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) offers high drought tolerant pasture
along with strong yields and high quality herbage. The objective of this research was to
compare recent red clover cultivars with an industry standard red clover cultivar and
lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), determining the effects of timing of first grazing and
grazing frequency.
Two experiments were conducted. The field experiment included two red clover
cultivars, Grasslands Relish and Grasslands Sensation, and a lucerne cultivar,
Grasslands Torlesse. Treatments consisted of a first grazing 10, 12 and 14 weeks after
sowing and a final grazing at 28 weeks after sowing. The species were measured over
the experiment for morphological development and production through the
establishment period. The second experiment was conducted in a glasshouse which
included three red clover cultivars Grasslands Relish, Grasslands Sensation and
Grasslands Colenso. Defoliation treatments were applied at 1, 2 and 4 week frequencies
while production and development were continuously measured including monthly
destructive harvests to further measure total plant biomass content and allocation.
The two recent red clover cultivars showed better production than lucerne and the
older red clover cultivar, and especially notable production was seen by Grasslands
Relish during the field experiment. Grasslands Relish was able to be grazed earlier than
Sensation giving more flexibility, as well as maintaining a high plant population from
autumn through to spring. Timing of first grazing showed that it substantially affected
yield but had no effect on plant populations. High frequency defoliation resulted in less
total herbage mass production and suppression of unique cultivar characteristics, such as
growth habit, that was shown in red clover cultivars that were defoliated less frequently.
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Keywords
Red clover, Lucerne, Grasslands Relish, Grasslands Sensation, Grasslands Torlesse, Grasslands Colenso