Soil acidity and growth of a legume. I. Interactions of lime with nitrogen and phosphate on growth of Medicago sativa L. and Trifolium subterraneum L.

1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 733 ◽  
Author(s):  
DN Munns
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Potassium Carbonate ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Aluminium Toxicity ◽  
Practical Advantage ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Lucerne grew poorly without lime on several acid soils on which subterranean clover grew normally. On the moderately acid soils, of pH 5.5–6.0, most of the lime response by lucerne could be attributed to improvement in nodulation and could be eliminated by supplying ammonium nitrate. Strains of medic Rhizobium differed in ability to nodulate lucerne plants in acid soils sufficiently to suggest practical advantage in selecting strains for superiority in this respect. On the more acid soils, of pH 5.0–5.5, lucerne responded to lime or potassium carbonate even when not nitrogen-deficient. This lime response was eliminated by large applications of phosphate. The interaction between lime and phosphate could indicate aluminium toxicity.

Nitrogen fixation by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) growing in pure culture and in mixtures with varying densities of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.)

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
P. S. Cocks ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
A. B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Pure Culture ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

The proportions of biologically fixed (Pfix) plant nitrogen (N) and the total amounts of N2 fixed by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) growing in pure culture and in mixtures with different densities (5, 10, 20, or 40plants/m2) of newly sown phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) or lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) were followed over 3 years in a field study using the 15N natural abundance technique. The amount of fixed N in subterranean clover was linearly related to shoot biomass. Over the 3-year period, subterranean clover fixed 23–34 kg N/t shoot biomass compared with 17–29 kg N/t shoot biomass in lucerne. Based on above-ground biomass, pure subterranean clover fixed 314 kg N/ha over the 3 years compared with 420–510 kg N/ha by lucerne–clover mixtures and 143–177 kg N/ha by phalaris–clover mixtures. The superior N2 fixation by the lucerneŒsubterranean clover mixtures was due to the N fixed by the lucerne and the presence of a higher subterranean clover biomass relative to that occurring in the adjacent phalaris plots. In the first year, 92% of subterranean clover shoot N was derived from fixation compared with only 59% of lucerne. The reliance of clover upon fixed N2 remained high (73–95%) throughout the 3 years in all swards, except in pure subterranean clover and lucerne in August 1996 (56 and 64%, respectively). Subterranean clover usually fixed a higher proportion of its N when grown in mixtures with phalaris than with lucerne. The calculated Pfix values for lucerne (47–61% in 1995 and 39–52% in 1996) were consistently lower than in subterranean clover and tended to increase with lucerne density. Although lucerne derived a lower proportion of its N from fixation than subterranean clover, its tissue N concentration was consistently higher, indicating it was effective at scavenging soil mineral N. It was concluded that including lucerne in wheat-belt pastures will increase inputs of fixed N. Although lucerne decreased subterranean clover biomass, it maintained or raised Pfix values compared with pure subterranean clover swards. The presence of phalaris maintained a high dependence on N2 fixation by subterranean clover, but overall these swards fixed less N due to the lower clover herbage yields. Perennial and annual legumes appear compatible if sown in a mix and can contribute more N2 to the system than where the annual is sown alone or with a perennial grass. These findings suggest that increases in the amount of N2 fixed can be achieved through different legume combinations without interfering greatly with the N fixation process. Different combinations may also result in more efficient use of fixed N2 through reduced leaching. Further work looking at combinations of annuals possibly with different maturity times, different annual and perennial legume combinations, and pure combinations of perennial (e.g. lucerne) could be investigated with the aim of maximising N2 fixation and use. Grazing management to encourage clover production in mixtures with phalaris will be necessary before the potential of subterranean clover to contribute fixed N2 in these swards is fully realised.

Soil acidity and growth of a legume. II. Reactions of aluminium and phosphate in solution and effects of alumminium, phosphate, calcium, and pH on Medicago sativa L. and Trifolium subterraneum, in solution culture

1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 743 ◽  
Author(s):  
DN Munns
Keyword(s):  
Root Elongation ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Aluminium Toxicity ◽  
Solution Culture ◽  
Phosphate Deficiency ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Phosphate Supply ◽  
Toxic Concentrations

Lucerne (M. sativa L.) grew as well in solutions maintained at pH 4 as at pH 5, and its growth at pH 4 was little affected by calcium concentrations above 5 mM when aluminium was not added (< 0. l µM). Phosphate concentrations above l µM were adequate for growth if maintained, and if phosphate was kept below 5 0 µM at pH 4 or below 10 µM at pH 4.5, then aluminium concentrations of the order of 100 µM could be maintained without evident reaction between aluminium and phosphate in solution. Under these conditions, uncomplicated by precipitation or phosphate deficiency in the nutrient solution, aluminium toxicity depressed yields, root elongation, and calcium and phosphate concentrations in shoots and roots, and it made the shoots look phosphate-deficient ; but it could not be remedied by increasing phosphate supply even when this restored plant phosphate to high levels. Only where addition of phosphate caused aluminium to precipitate in the solution did it alleviate the toxicity. Increasing the calcium concentration from 1 mM to 5 mM slightly alleviated the effects of aluminium, except at highly toxic concentrations. T. subterraneum took up more aluminium than lucerne, but tolerated aluminium in the medium better. Adding ethylenediaminetetra-acetate to solutions containing 200 µM aluminium concentrations improved the growth of both species to the extent that concentrations of free aluminium were reduced by chelation.

Effect of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) density on seed yield and regeneration of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
P. S. Cocks ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
E. C. Wolfe ◽  
L. M. Ayre
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Clover Seed

A mixture of 3 subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cultivars (cvv. Goulburn, Seaton Park, and Dalkeith) was grown with 5–40 plants/m2 of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) or lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) for 3 years at Wagga Wagga, NSW (147°21´E, 35°03´S). Clover seed yield was assessed each year, the number of regenerating clover seedlings was counted, herbage yield of clover and the perennials was measured, and the change in perennial density recorded. The influence of perennials on water availability in spring and light during clover seed set was also examined. The impact of perennial density on clover was assessed using regression analyses. In each of the 3 years, subterranean clover seed yield was negatively related to perennial density, but phalaris suppressed clover seed yield more than equivalent densities of lucerne in 2 of the years. Clover seed yield was positively related (R2 = 0.30–0.85) to clover biomass in spring in all 3 years (except for subterranean clover in phalaris in 1994) and to the proportion of total photosynthetically active radiation reaching the clover canopy beneath the perennial (R2 = 0.33–0.83) in 2 of the 3 years. There was a positive relationship between clover seedling regeneration in autumn and size of the summer seed bank in both years in lucerne (R2 = 0.40–0.76) and in 1 year in phalaris (R2 = 0.76) and a negative association between perennial density and clover seedling regeneration. The rate at which the surface profile (0–37 cm) dried in spring was independent of phalaris and lucerne density over the 3 years and did not differ from that of pure clover. The late season clover cultivar, Goulburn, constituted between 57% and 79% of the seed bank following seed set, substantially more than the earlier flowering cultivars, Seaton Park and Dalkeith. Neither perennial density nor species changed the relative competitiveness of the 3 cultivars. The high seed yield of Goulburn and the lack of a perennial-induced change in surface soil water in spring suggest that growing perennials in association with subterranean clover does not increase the level of moisture stress during clover seed set. The good performance of Goulburn is attributed to superior competitive ability for light in late spring. The basal area occupied by lucerne and phalaris increased with perennial density in each of the first 2 years. However, in the third year, phalaris basal area was similar at all densities. The findings suggest that sowing low densities of lucerne should assist in promoting seed yield and regeneration of subterranean clover. Management of phalaris, which has the capacity to substantially increase plant size at low densities, may require additional strategies such as more frequent grazing in spring.

Nutritional restraints on subterranean clover grown on acid soils used for crop-pasture rotation

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Coventry ◽  
JR Hirth ◽  
KKH Fung
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Manganese Toxicity ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Nutritional Factors ◽  
North East ◽  
Matter Production

Lime, N and molybdenum fertilizers were used to establish how soil acidity limits the growth of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), in pot culture, on acid soils taken from north-east Victoria. The results indicate that two nutritional factors associated with the growth of subterranean clover are affected by excess acidity. These are manganese toxicity and ineffective nodulation of the clover. The plants grown on one unlimed soil (Rutherglen) had manganese concentrations and symptoms consistent with manganese toxicity. Liming the second soil (Lilliput) overcame a N deficiency by way of increased nodule formation. A third nutritional factor commonly associated with excess acidity, and found on the Lilliput soil, molybdenum deficiency, was not alleviated by the application of lime. Instead, the application of molybdenum fertilizer gave increases in clover dry matter production at all lime rates. In the absence of molybdenum fertilizer, the molybdenum concentration of the herbage was extremely low, irrespective of liming. These results are discussed in relation to already established field responses of subterranean clover to lime, and the management of the clover-ley system on the strongly acid soils.

Alfalffa,Medicago sativa L., in highly weathered, acid soils

1981 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Bouton ◽  
M. E. Sumner ◽  
J. E. Giddens
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Alfalfa,Medicago sativa L., in highly weathered, acid soils

1982 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. O. Brooks ◽  
J. H. Bouton ◽  
M. E. Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Effects of lime on the botanical composition of pasture over nine years in a field experiment on the south-western slopes of New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Li ◽  
K. R. Helyar ◽  
C. M. Evans ◽  
M. C. Wilson ◽  
L. J. C. Castleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Eastern Australia

Two permanent pastures (annual pasture v. perennial pasture) were established in 1992 as part of the long-term field experiment, MASTER — Managing Acid Soils Through Efficient Rotations. The primary objective of the experiment was to develop an agricultural system that is economically viable and environmentally sustainable on the highly acidic soils in south-eastern Australia. This paper reports on the effects of lime on the botanical composition changes of annual and perennial pastures over 9 years. In general, lime increased the proportion of the desirable species, such as phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) in perennial pasture and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in annual pastures, and decreased the proportion of the undesirable species, such as Vulpia spp., in both annual and perennial pastures, ultimately improving the quality of feed-on-offer to animals. As a result, the limed pastures carried 24% more sheep than the unlimed pastures, while maintaining individual animal performance similar for both limed and unlimed pastures. The phalaris-based perennial pasture was more stable in terms of maintaining the sown species than the annual pasture. Lime improved the persistence of phalaris and the longevity of the phalaris-based pasture should be at least 10 years. Lime changed the direction of plant succession of annual pastures. Without lime, Vulpia spp. gradually became more dominant while ryegrass and subterranean clover became less dominant in annual pastures. With lime, barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) gradually invaded the sward at the expense of ryegrass, thus reducing the benefits of lime, but this effect was less for the perennial pastures than for annual pastures. Liming perennial pastures should be more beneficial than liming annual pastures because of the beneficial effects on pasture composition. In addition, previously published work reported that liming perennial pastures improved sustainability through better use of water and nitrogen.

Pasture mixes with lucerne (Medicago sativa) increase yields and water-use efficiencies over traditional pastures based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. McCaskill ◽  
M. C. Raeside ◽  
S. G. Clark ◽  
C. MacDonald ◽  
B. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Weed Invasion ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Water Use Efficiencies

Pastures sown to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) with a perennial non-legume could increase feed supply relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Such mixtures might also be preferable to pure lucerne pastures, which are prone to weed invasion. Yield and water-use efficiency (harvested dry matter per unit evapotranspiration) of mixtures with lucerne or subterranean clover were compared a field experiment established under rainfed conditions at Hamilton, Victoria. Soil moisture and dry matter production were measured over 2 years. Treatments included chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) with either lucerne or subterranean clover; pure lucerne; and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with only subterranean clover. In the second year, dry matter production from lucerne mixtures exceeded that of equivalent mixtures with subterranean clover in spring, summer and winter. In spring, the lucerne component continued producing for longer than the clover component through its use of deeper stored soil water, and in summer, lucerne continued to grow slowly after the grass component had entered a drought-induced dormancy. In winter, the contribution from the lucerne component complemented, rather than competed with, that from the non-legume component. Water-use efficiencies during winter–spring ranged from 4 kg ha–1 mm–1 for chicory–clover to 27 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture, and during summer–autumn from nil for cocksfoot–clover to 13 kg ha–1 mm–1 for a fescue–lucerne mixture. This study demonstrates that lucerne-based mixtures can increase forage supply per unit water use relative to traditional pastures based on subterranean clover.

Moisture relations of hay species

1958 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 436 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Trifolium Repens L

Moisture relations of four species used for making hay—white clover (Trifolium repens L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)—have been investigated. Shapes and positions of equilibrium moisture content-relative humidity curves differed between species; and in general, moisture contents were lower for fast-cured than for slow-cured material and lower for over-mature than for less mature material. Sorption hysteresis effects were observed. Under the experimental conditions employed, equilibrium moisture contents were lower for material subjected to conditioning atmospheres immediately after mowing than for material cured prior to conditioning. Variations in the shape and position of equilibrium curves were frequently in accordance with known variations in chemical composition.

Lime and molybdenum in clover development on acid soils

1952 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Anderson ◽  
DV Moye
Keyword(s):  
Acid Soil ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Low Levels

In a study of the factors concerned in the effect of lime on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) on an acid soil where nodulation is defective, it has been found that responses equal to those obtained with heavy dressings of lime can be obtained by the application of molybdenum together with only 2 cwt. of lime per acre at seeding. Marked response to molybdenum was obtained only where low levels of lime were used. Where heavier dressings of lime were applied the clover grew normally and did not then require treatment with molybdenum. Where no lime was used nodulation was defective and, during the first two )ears, response to molybdenum did not occur or was very small. Nodulation subsequently improved on the unlimed soil and response to molybdenum progressively increased over the five-year period of the experiments. In the year of sowing best results were obtained where the inoculated seed was drilled with the lime. The evidence suggests that defective nodulation of subterranean clover may be expected on new land where the soil reactions are less than pH 5.0, and that soils of higher pH but with minimum values less than pH 5.5 are also suspect. The importance of treatment with adequate superphosphate in addition to lime and molybdenum in the development of subterranean clover on this acid soil is stressed. The interpretation and significance of the positive and negative lime-molybdenum interactions obtained are discussed.

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