A COMPARISON OF 'GRASSLANDS PITAU' AND 'HUIA' WHITE CLOVERS IN OTAGO

Abstract

Pitau and Huia white clovers were sown with two rates of Ruanui, Ariki and Manawa ryegrass on high fertility soil at Invermay Agricultural Research Centre and lower fertility soil at Traquair. Although clover establishment in the Pitau white clover treatments was comparable with, or superior to that in the Huia treatments, the latter tended to have a denser growth habit, particularly during spring. Overall, there was little difference in total annual dry matter production between treatments but clover yields varied considerably in all trials. Huia clover dry matter production was superior to Pitau in the first two years but in later years the position was reversed.