Competition between established grass and seedling white clover, with particular reference to hill pasture improvement

Abstract

Natural Agrostis-Festuca hill pastures on acid brown earth soils are characterised by a low rate of dry matter production and, even when efficiently grazed and the nitrogen recycled through the animal, also by a low level of available nitrogen, (Floats, 1970).

An input of nitrogen is essential if production is to be increased and the introduction of White Clover, (Trifolium repens), is likely to be the most economic means of achieving this. Establishment of clover by over-sowing existing pastures without cultivation is economically attractive but in practice is slow and uncertain. Moisture stress is one factor causing uncertain establishment but even where this is not limiting, competition for nutrients and light can be expected to have an effect on the proportion of plants successfully established and on their rate of growth, rate of development of stolons and spread through the pasture. This competition can be expected to be severe in the early stages of establishment and of seeding growth and it is with this problem that the present work is concerned.

A better knowledge of the relative importance of the various factors affecting competition at this stage might enable better methods of clover establishment to be devised for farm use.White CloverCompetitionEstablishment