ROLE OF IMPROVED CLOVERS IN NON-ARABLE PASTURE RENEWAL IN MID-CANTERBURY

Abstract

Trials under sheep and dairy cow grazing in mid Canterbury examined the effectiveness of mcludmg new white clover cultivars with ryegrass in a non-arable (spray, top-cultivate and drill) pasture renewal. Five weeks after sowing, 13% of white clover plants had originated from regrowing stolons in the sheep pasture; in dairy pasture the figure was over 50%. Initially including a white clover cultivar increased total dry matter yield. However after 3 years there was no difference in total dry matter yield from plots sown with ryegrass but no clover. 'Grasslands Kopu' white clover outproduced 'Grasslands Huia' by only 4% and 1% in dairy and sheep pastures respectively and had a slightly greater white clover content. Control plots initially had a lower clover percentage than the sown cultivars. but by the third year it tended to be greater. The greater average length of leaflets in Kopu plots indicated that the cultivar was present throughout both trials. It is suggested that the inclusion of white clover in non-arable pasture renewal wll give economic returns only if seed costs are low. Keywords: 'Grasslands Kopu'. 'Grasslands Huia', white clover, pasture renewal, irrigation