FACTORS AFFECTING THE STOLON GROWTH OF WHITE CLOVER IN RYEGRASS CLOVER PATCHES/

The effects of spatial location of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) within a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)/white clover pasture o n stolen and petiole extension were investigated in two experiments, w here patch size containing white clover(0.5 m, 1.5 m and 4 m diameter) , location within the patch (inside and edge) and cutting height (4 cm and 8 cm) were varied. Stolen extension rate was greater on the edge of a patch (12.1 mm week(-1)) than inside the patch (7.2 mm week(-1)). Patch size affected both stolen and petiole extension rate, which wer e both greater in small and medium-sized than in large patches. It is suggested that the fastest spread of white clover in patchy sward envi ronments should occur from small patches, which could double in diamet er during a growing season. Manipulating the heights of vegetation wit hin and outside large patches affected light quality (red-far red; R/F R) at ground level, which was greater under shorter than taller swards and greater under the canopy of the grass matrix than the grass/white clover patch. However, the height differences between adjacent vegeta tion had little effect on stolen or petiole growth. In May only, stole n extension at the patch boundary was greatest when both patches and t he grass matrix had a height of 8 cm.