ESTABLISHMENT OF OVERSOWN WHITE CLOVER ON UNIMPROVED NORTH AUCKLAND CLAY HILL COUNTRY

Abstract

IN NORTH AUCKLAND, as is the case in all other areas of New Zealand, the key to pasture improvement lies in the introduction of legumes. Almost invariably poor pasture production is associated with poor clover growth. Contributing factors to poor clover establishment and growth are low amounts of available phosphate, potassium, molybdenum and sulphur, acid soil conditions and ineffective nodulation. This paper is concerned with the germination and establishment of white clover on unimproved North Auckland clay hill country. White clover establishment has been investigated on the soils of two northern yellow-brown earth soil suites, namely, the Marua suite from greywacke parent material and the Waiotira suite, from massive sandstone. These soils have been described by Taylor and Sutherland (1953) and are shown in their order of leaching in Tables 1 and 5, respectively.