Competition between two varieites of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) as related to the proportions of seed sown

Abstract

The Yarloop and Tallaroolr varieties of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) xvere grown in swards in six mixtures, varying from 100% Yarloop/0%, Tallarook to 0% Yarloop/100% Tallarook, to find out whether the suppression of Tallarook by Yarloop consequent upon the greater petiole elongation of yarloop would still occur when only a few Yarloop plants were present. The swards were grown in large seed boxes and were sampled on four occasions during vegetative growth. Leaf areas for each 2 cm layer of the swards were determined separately for the two strains, and light intensities at each layer were measured at each sampling occasion. It was shown that Yarloop plants suppressed Tallarook in all mixtures. The relative amounts of light energy available to the two strains in the mixed swards left no doubt that the suppression of Tallarook was the result of shading by the taller-growing Yarloop plants.