The relative success of strains of Trifolium subterraneum L. in binary mixtures under field conditions

Abstract

Mixtures of Dwalganup/Northam A, Dwalganup/Uniwager, Dwalganup/Daliak, Yarloop/Daliak and Yarloop/Seaton Park were grazed over a 6-year period. An additional mixture (Yarloop/Woogenellup) was abandoned after 2 years of grazing because of contamination by unsown strains.

The principal finding with respect to the initial 50/50 mixtures was that Uniwager differed from the other new strains Northam A, Daliak and Seaton Park in that it was not successful. When grown with the three latter strains the proportion of Dwalganup and Yarloop, measured during the growing season, fell to about 10%. This result was considered very promising in connexion with the 'clover disease' problem which occurs on pastures dominated by Dwalganup and Yarloop. The factors influencing success and failure are discussed briefly, and the importance of the seedling establishment phase is emphasized.