Relative performance of white clover (Trifolium repens) cultivars and experimental synthetics under rotational grazing by beef cattle, dairy cattle and sheep
M. Z. Z. Jahufer
A * , J. L. Ford B , G. R. Cousins B and D. R. Woodfield B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B PGG Wrightson Seeds Limited, C/- Grasslands Research Centre, Building 88, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Crop & Pasture Science 72(11) 926-938 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP21084
Submitted: 10 February 2021 Accepted: 18 July 2021 Published: 26 November 2021
© 2021 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing Open Access CC BY-NC
Abstract
Assessment of the relative performance of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars, using multi-year and multi-location seasonal growth trials, is key to identification of material with specific and broad adaptation. This paper is based on a multi-year and multi-location study of 56 white clover entries comprising 14 commercial cultivars and 42 experimental synthetic lines evaluated for seasonal growth under rotational grazing across four locations in New Zealand over 4 years. The four locations (and animals grazing) were: Kerikeri (beef cattle), Aorangi (beef cattle), Ruakura (dairy cattle), Lincoln (sheep). Significant (P < 0.05) genotypic variation among the 56 entries, and genotype × year, genotype × location and genotype × season interactions, were estimated. We were able to identify cultivars and experimental synthetics with specific and broad adaptation to the three grazing management types. Cvv. AberDance, Apex, Demand, Prestige, Quartz and Riesling, with leaf size ranging from small to medium–large, showed highly above-average performance under sheep grazing. Synthetic lines 15 and 45 also had highly above-average performance under sheep grazing. Cvv. Legacy and Kopu II showed above-average performance under cattle and dairy grazing. Synthetics 15, 48, 49, 44, 22 and 18 and cv. Quartz had above-average performance under all three grazing managements. Synthetics 27, 33 and 38 had highly above-average performance across all three grazing managements and were superior to all 14 cultivars evaluated. Several of these superior synthetics are being tested across multiple grazing environments. Among the 14 cultivars evaluated, Legacy and Quartz showed superior seasonal growth performance across the three grazing managements. Quartz is being evaluated in several on-farm trials across temperate regions of the world.
Keywords: broad adaptation, forage breeding, genotype-by-environment interaction, grazing management, leaf size, multi-location testing, pattern analysis, vegetative persistence.
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