The winter production of some strains of subterranean clover grown in defoliated swards

Abstract

The results of two experiments are reported, one at Perth, Western Australia, in an open-sided glass shelter, and the other at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in the open. Clover swards were grown in boxes and after about one month were subjected to weekly, close defoliation. Two strains that differ in growth habit, Woogenellup (relatively erect) and Esperance (compact, lowgrowing), were used in both experiments. In addition, strain 209.8.19.1 (a crossbred similar to Esperance) was included at Perth, and Nungarin, Yarloop and Larisa at Wagga Wagga. The main finding was that winter production differed little, if at all, between the strains. The relevance of the results to the field evaluation of clover strains is emphasized, and we suggest that under good conditions of moisture supply, nutrition, plant density, etc., substantial differences between strains in winter production are unlikely