CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROSITES WITH AND WITHOUT WHITE CLOVER IN 2 FIELD SWARDS

A microsite comparison technique was used to characterize differences between clover and non-clover patches in two field swards, one grazed by cattle and the other sheep-grazed. Within clover patches of both sw ards, ryegrass tiller weight and the percentage of dead dry matter (DM ) was lower than in nonclover patches, while the ratio of other grass DM: ryegrass DM was higher. Leaf senescence rates for ryegrass tillers within clover patch microsites were less than half of those of non-cl over patch microsites, and consequently net leaf production was higher . At clover patch microsites, soil carbon dioxide levels were lower, s oil oxygen levels higher and levels of N, Na, Ca, Mg and P in the ryeg rass component of the herbage DM were elevated, compared with non-clov er patch microsites.