Trifolium repens

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: De Vliegher A. and D’Hose T.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
In this experiment, we compared grass in pure stand (300 Navailable ha‑1) and grasses mixed with red and white clover (150 Navailable ha‑1) under cutting conditions. The experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil (Merelbeke, Belgium) in 2011-2014. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne – Lp), tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae – Fa) and Festulolium (Fe) in pure stands were sown with and without clover. Grass-clover with 150 N ha‑1 produced more dry matter (+ 1.11 Mg ha‑1 year‑1) with a higher protein content in terms of crude protein % (+4.5%) and true protein digested in the small intestine (+13 g kg‑1 dry matter (DM)), but lower energy concentration (-15 VEM (fodder unit milk) g kg‑1 DM) compared to grass with 300 N ha‑1. The energy content of Lp cv Meloni and Fe cv Lifema was lower in the grassclover 150 N management than in the grass 300 N and did not change for the other grasses. Barolex (Fa), Callina (Fa) and Hykor (Fe) had significantly higher DM production, but significantly lower energy and protein content in comparison with Lp. Lifema (Fe) was less productive than the other varieties/species but had a better quality compared to Hykor (Fe) and Fa.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Fychan R., Crotty F.V., Scullion J., Sanderson R. and Marley C.L.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Using shallow tillage (e.g. direct drilling) is one approach that farmers could use to reduce establishment costs within dairy systems, but soils are often compacted by machinery during field operations. Research has shown that different forage species may alter the physical properties of soil. An experiment investigating the effects of forage species established by direct drilling, either with or without sward-lifting, on soil compaction was established on a previously compacted area of silt loam at Trawscoed, Aberystwyth University. Treatments consisted of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), white clover (Trifolium repens) or lucerne (Medicago sativa) established by direct drilling compared to ryegrass established by ploughing, with each of these treatments set up either with or without prior sward-lifting. The existing ryegrass sward was used as a control. Triplicate plots (17×3 m) of each treatment were sown on 17 July. Sward-lifting reduced soil penetration resistance for all treatments in all soil layers between 7.5 and 37.5 cm, but increased resistance in the 0-7.5 cm layer. Ploughing reduced soil penetration resistance in all soil layers between 0-22.5 cm. Soil penetration resistance within the 0-7.5 cm layer of soil was lower in existing ryegrass plots than lucerne plots during early establishment.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Enríquez-Hidalgo D., Gilliland T.J. and Hennessy D.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
The objective of the experiment was to evaluate herbage removed (HR) and sward clover content in grass-only (GO) and grass-white clover (GW) swards under frequent tight grazing conditions. A series of grazing plots (8×8 m) were established as a 2-sward (GO and GW) × 5-fertilizer N rate (0, 60, 120, 196, 240 kg N ha‑1) experiment. Measurements were taken from 2010 to 2013. Dairy cows grazed swards 8-10 times yr‑1 to a target post-grazing sward height of 4 cm. GW swards had 14-46% greater (P