INFLUENCE OF GRASS SEED RATE, HERBICIDE (BENTAZONE), MOLLUSCICIDE (METHIOCARB) AND INSECTICIDE (TRIAZOPHOS) ON WHITE CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM-REPENS) ESTABLISHMENT, HERBAGE YIELD AND SWARD BOTANICAL COMPOSITION

Some of the possible reasons for the failure of white clover (Trifoliu m repens) seedlings to establish and develop were investigated. Experi mental plots were sown with 3 kg white clover seed ha-1 and either 12 or 24 kg perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seed ha-1 and given no tr eatment, herbicide (bentazone), insecticide (triazophos), molluscicide (methiocarb) or all possible combinations of these treatments. Using the higher rate of ryegrass seed led to a greater proportion of this f orage in the swards that developed. Use of the herbicide led to higher yields at one site in the second year, with fewer weeds and a greater proportion of ryegrass than clover in the swards. Insecticide and mol luscicide generally had little or no effect, although molluscicide inc reased clover content and decreased ryegrass content at one site in th e first harvest year.