Potential for high country pasture improvement from planting of rhizome fragments of spreading legumes

Abstract

Three legumes, zigzag clover (TrijXium medium), Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum) and crown vetch (Coronilla varia) are notable for their extensive vegetative spread by underground rhizomes but slow initial establishment and low seed set. The possibility of vegetative propagation was considered. A 9-year trial showed the success of transplanting rhizome fragments of different sizes under different fertiliser regimes into hieracium-dominated fescue tussock grasslands. Initial survival and establishment was influenced by fragment size and fertiliser. Subsequent growth was similar for the three species and mainly influenced by fertiliser. Keywords high country, legumes, pasture improvement, rhizome fragments