Clover persistence in mixtures of two varieties of perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne) with contrasting growth habits and three white clover
(Trifolium repens) varieties differing in leaf sizes was evaluated at
two cutting frequencies. An experiment was sown in 1991 on a clay soi
l. The plots received no nitrogen fertilizer. In 1992, 1993 and 1994,
mixtures containing the large-leaved clover cv. Alice yielded signific
antly more herbage dry matter (DM) and had a higher clover content tha
n mixtures containing cvs Gwenda and Retor. Companion grass variety di
d not consistently affect yield or botanical composition. Cutting at 2
t DM ha(-1) resulted in slightly higher total annual yields than cutt
ing at 1.2 t DM ha(-1), but did not affect clover content. In 1992 the
mixtures yielded, depending on cutting frequency and variety, 10.6-14
.6 t DM ha(-1) and 446-599 kg ha(-1) N, whereas grass monocultures yie
lded only 1.2-2.0 t DM ha(-1) and 25-46 kg ha(-1) N. From 1992 to 1994
the annual mean total herbage yield of DM in the mixtures declined fr
om 12.2 to 10.5 to 8.7 t ha(-1), the white clover yield declined from
8.7 to 6.5 to 4.1 t ha(-1) and the average clover content during the g
rowing season declined from 71% to 61% to 46%, whereas the grass yield
increased from 3.4 to 4.0 to 4.5 t ha(-1). The N yield decreased from
507 to 406 to 265 kg N ha(-1) and the apparent N fixation from 470 to
380 to 238 kg N ha(-1). Nitrate leaching losses during the winters of
1992-93 and 1994-95 were highest under mixtures with cv. Alice, but d
id not exceed 10 kg N ha(-1). The in vitro digestible organic matter (
IVDOM) was generally higher in clover than in grass, particularly in t
he summer months. No differences in IVDOM were found among clover or g
rass varieties. The experiment will be continued to study clover persi
stence and the mechanisms that affect the grass/clover balance.