persistence

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: De Wit J., Rietberg P. and Van Eekeren N.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Inclusion of red clover (Trifolium pratense) in grasslands improves productivity. However, poor persistence, particularly under high fertilization rates, is a major limitation for wider utilization. Earlier observations indicated that the type of grass may influence the grass-clover balance, besides, e.g. cutting strategy. In a field experiment we investigated clover proportions and production of five different grass mixtures in combination with red and white clover (T. repens): (1) Lolium perenne; (2) L. boucheanum + L. perenne; (3) Festulolium + L. perenne + L. boucheanum + Phleum pratense subsp. pratense; (4) L. perenne + Festulolium; (5) Festuca arundinacea + P. pratense. The experiment was carried out for three years at two locations (sandy and clay soil) at high fertilization levels (254 and 306 kg N-total ha‑1 year‑1 from animal manure). Results indicate that red clover can be relatively persistent, with an average of 43% red clover in the DM-production in both the second and third year. Mixtures containing L. boucheanum showed significantly lower clover proportions. Protein production per hectare was strongly and positively related to the red clover proportion in the sward. These results show that grass species influence the productivity and clover proportions in grass-clover swards. The best performing mixtures under the given conditions include Festulolium or F. arundinacea.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Cernoch V. and Groenbaek O.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Festulolium (× Festulolium) has been listed as a grass genus on the European list of Plant Varieties since 2004. DLF-Trifolium has made many trials with Festulolium varieties under different managements and climatic conditions across Europe. Results of these trials show the benefits of Festulolium and give a basis for recommendations on how to use varieties either as pure crops or in mixtures in various European regions.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Van Eekeren N., Hoogsteen M., Deru J., De Wit J. and Lantinga E.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Maintaining white clover (Trifolium repens) content in grasslands is a challenge for high output ecoefficient dairy farms on mineral soils that use biological N-fixation as a relevant source of N-input. Lower cutting height and cutting at an early growth stage have positive effects on the white clover content in grass-clover mixtures in mowing systems. Our objective was to quantify the effect of three grazing systems (rotational, continuous and lenient strip stocking) on clover content and dry matter production. Grazing was simulated with a Haldrup grass harvester and dried cattle manure pellets were applied to resemble the organic matter input from grazing cattle (50 kg N ha‑1 yr‑1). The experiment was established on sandy soil in 2011 in four replicates in sown grass-clover. Average clover content measured in June and October 2014 was lowest for lenient strip stocking and highest for continuous stocking. This resulted in 2014 in the highest grassland dry matter production for continuous stocking (15.0 Mg DM ha‑1) and the lowest for lenient strip stocking (6.9 Mg dry matter (DM) ha‑1). Rotational stocking occupied an intermediate position (11.9 Mg DM ha‑1).