THE PHOSPHATE NUTRITION OF WHITE CLOVER

Abstract

The high phosphate requirements of grass/clover pastures are discussed in relation to the greater efficiency of grasses compared with clovers in extracting limited amounts of available soil P. Results of experiments are briefly described which show that variation in response to applied P exists within the white clover species. It is suggested that the emphasis of research effort should be shifted from its present preoccupation with the determination of P requirements of soils to that of selecting and breeding cultivars which have lower soil P requirements than do cultivars now available. This approach could provide a means of reducing dependence on heavy phosphate topdressing.