Assessment of methods of re-seeding subterranean clover near Esperance, Western Australia

Abstract

In 1979 and 1980, three methods of re-seeding subterranean clover were investigated near Esperance, Western Australia: seeding just before the break to the season (dry-seeding), and seeding after the break, after killing the emerging pasture by mechanical cultivations or with herbicides. Sowing subterranean clover into a cereal stubble just prior to the break of the winter growing season, followed by continuous grazing after emergence to pr, vent overtopping of the clover seedlings, was he most economical method. It did not involve costs associated with the other methods (ploughing and scarifying, or herbicides and spraying), it produced between five and twenty times as much dried herbage in winter as was produced by the other methods, and had twice the sheep-carrying capacity in winter. The differences in clover seed yields between the three methods were not statistically significant, but yields were reduced by about 30% when grazing of dry-seeded treatments in cereal stubble was delayed until 6 weeks after emergence of seedlings, because of a 30% decrease in the number of clover seedlings.