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Variation in rate of phenological development and morphology between red clover varieties: Implications for clover proportion and feed quality in mixed swards

Nadeem, Shahid; Steinshamn, Håvard; Sikkeland, Elin Halvorsen; Gustavsson, Anne‐Maj and Bakken, Anne Kjersti (2019) Variation in rate of phenological development and morphology between red clover varieties: Implications for clover proportion and feed quality in mixed swards. Grass and Forage Science, 74, pp. 403-414.

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Summary

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) grown in mixtures with grasses often constitutes a lower proportion of total yield in spring than in summer growth. A more even red clover proportion between the harvests would benefit forage quality and management at feeding. We investigated whether inclusion of early versus late‐maturing red clover varieties could reduce this disproportionality. In a two‐year field trial harvested three times per season, each of six red clover varieties was grown in two grass mixtures. Rate of phenological development did not differ during spring growth, but did so in regrowth after first and second cuts. Here, the earliest varieties constituted the highest proportion. At all harvests, the early varieties had lower crude protein concentrations and a higher content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and indigestible NDF than the late varieties. Clover proportion was higher in swards with a mixture of timothy and meadow fescue than in swards with perennial ryegrass during the first year and lower in the second year. It is concluded that developmental rate should be explored further as a key character for red clover competiveness in spring growth of rapidly elongating grasses.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Clover proportion, forage quality, grass swards, phenology, Trifolium pratense
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems > Pasture and forage crops
Research affiliation: Norway > NLR - Norwegian Agricultural Extension Service
Norway > NIBIO – Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
Sweden > Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) > Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden
ISSN:0142-5242
DOI:10.1111/gfs.12427
Deposited By: Steinshamn, Dr Håvard
ID Code:38185
Deposited On:03 Jul 2020 07:56
Last Modified:03 Jul 2020 07:56
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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