Effects of pH and aluminium on the growth of temperate pasture species. I. Temperate grasses and legumes supplied with inorganic nitrogen

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC Edmeades ◽  
FPC Blamey ◽  
CJ Asher ◽  
DG Edwards

A flowing solution culture experiment was conducted in which four temperature pasture grasses and 11 temperate pasture legumes were grown in solutions of low ionic strength for 29 days at six aluminium (Al) levels with average Al3+ activities {Al3+} of 1.0, 5.1, 5.9, 9.9, 20.8, 41.6 8M at pH 4.5. Growth of these species was also measured at pH 5.5 in the absence of Al. In the absence of added Al, lucerne (Medicago sativa) cv. Hunter River and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) cv. Grasslands Maru grew better at pH 5.5 than at 4.5. The reverse was so for ryegrass (Lolium perenne) cv. Grasslands Nui and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cv. Tallarook. Increasing the pH from 4.5 to 5.5 had no effect on the growth of the other 11 species and cultivars tested. Micromolar activities of Al (<10 8M) markedly reduced the growth of all species. Four groups were tentatively identified in terms of their tolerance to Al. The two cultivars of ryegrass and the two red clover (Trifolium pratense) cultivars, together with Lotus corniculatus cv. Maitland, were relatively sensitive to Al. A 50% reduction in total dry matter (TDM) was associated with {Al3+} of 2-3 8M. The four white clover (Trifolium repens) cultivars, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) cv. Grasslands Roa, phalaris cv. Grasslands Maru, and Lucerne cv. Hunter River were intermediate in their tolerance, with {Al3+} of 3-5 8M reducing TDM by 50%. The two subterranean clover cultivars were more tolerant to Al than white clover (50% TDM reduction at 5-6 8M {Al3+}. Lotus pedunculatus CV. Grasslands Maku was exceptional in its tolerance to Al. Its growth was unaffected by {Al3+} up to 5 8M and 50% growth reduction was associated with {Al3+} of 7 8M The results of this study emphasize the need to conduct solution culture experiments at realistic solution concentrations and ionic strengths when examining the effects of Al on plant growth.

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 893 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC Edmeades ◽  
FPC Blamey ◽  
CJ Asher ◽  
DG Edwards

Ten temperate pasture legumes inoculated with appropriate rhizobia were grown for 31 days in flowing solution culture. Solution ionic strength was approximately 2700 8M and contained inorganic nitrogen (150 , 8M NO3-) only at the commencement of the experiment. Solution pH was maintained at 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0. Also, five aluminium (Al) treatments were imposed, with nominal Al concentrations of 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 8M (2.5, 7.1, 8.3, 11.2 and 24.7 8M Al measured) at pH 4.5. Solution pH <6 . 0 markedly reduced total dry mass (TDM) in all cultivars of white clover (Trifolium repens) cvv. 'Grasslands Pitau, Huia, G18 and Tahora' and red clover (Trifolium pratense) cvv. 'Grassland Turoa and Pawera', and to a lesser extent in the two subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cvv. 'Tallarook and Woogenellup'. In contrast, solution pH had no effect on the growth of Lotus corniculatus cv. Maitland, while Lotus pedunculatus cv. Maku grew best at pH 4.5. Lotus pedunculatus cv. Maku grew best in solution where the sum of the activities of the monomeric Al species {Alm} was maintained at 5.9 8M. The growth of all other species was decreased with Al in solution, a 50% reduction in TDM being associated with c. 6 8M {Alm] for white clover and subterranean clover, and c. 3 8M in red clover and Lotus corniculatus cv. Maitland.


1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 569 ◽  
Author(s):  
MK Kim ◽  
DG Edwards ◽  
CJ Asher

Eleven cultivars of Trifolium subterraneum and Trifolium semipilosum cv. Safari were grown with adequate combined nitrogen for 27 days in flowing solution culture with controlled nutrient concentrations at constant pH values ranging from 3.5 to 6.5. A solution pH of 3.5 was lethal to all cultivars, but growth was in all cases vigorous at pH 4.0 (RGR 15.2-16.9 g 100 g-1 day-1). There were no significant effects of pH over the range of 4.0-6.5 on the yield of any clover cultivar. The results are discussed in relation to an earlier study suggesting greater tolerance of subterranean clover to pH values below 4.0. Phosphorus toxicity symptoms developed in all subterranean clover cultivars with the intensity of symptom development increasing with solution pH from 4.5 to 6.5. The concentration of phosphorus in the older leaves decreased as the solution pH was increased from 4.0 to 4.5, and then increased with further increase in pH, reaching values = 1.0%. Rates of phosphorus absorption followed a similar pattern of response to solution pH. Results are discussed with reference to previously reported effects of pH on phosphorus uptake.


1970 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Shutt ◽  
RH Weston ◽  
JP Hogan

Studies have been made of the digestion and metabolism in Merino wethers of the isoflavones in subterranean clover (Trtfolium subterraneurn cv. Clare) and red clover (T. pratense). The dietary intake of isoflavones with both clovers was about 9 g per day. With the subterranean clover, the isoflavones were predominantly genistein and biochanin A, and slight teat length increases in the wethers ingesting this clover indicated a low level of oestrogenicity. With the red clover formononetin represented 60% of the isoflavone present and the wethers on this diet exhibited maximal teat length increases indicating a high level of oestrogenicity. Less than 1 % of the daily intake of the isoflavones was excreted as such in the faeces and urine; hence most of these compounds were metabolized or retained in the sheep. The dietary isoflavones were found to disappear rapidly from the rumen, and it was estimated by using marker techniques that the removal of these compounds from the stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) was virtually complete. Equol (7,4'-dihydroxyisoflavan), a metabolite of formononetin, was the predominant phyto-oestrogen in the digesta and excreta when red clover was given. The excretion of 3.9 g/day of this compound, mainly in urine, was equivalent to 70% of the intake of formononetin. It was calculated that about 86% of the equol produced in the rumen was absorbed from that organ; the mean residence time for equol in the rumen was estimated to be 1.7 hr. The isoflavones were present in blood plasma mainly in conjugated forms. Equol predominated with both clovers. The levels of equol were much lower with the subterranean clover than with the red clover diet; the concentrations of the conjugated form were respectively 13 and 300-440 �g/100 ml. Equol in the free form, although not detectable with the subterranean clover, was present at 4-10 �g/100 ml with red clover. The data were considered to be consistent with the conclusion that equol accounts for most of the phyto-oestrogenic activity in sheep fed on clovers containing high levels of formononetin.


2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 1934578X0600100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Tava ◽  
Luciano Pecetti ◽  
Alessia Bertoli ◽  
Efisio Piano

A collection of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) genotypes from Sardinia was evaluated for the content of oestrogenic isoflavones to assess differences in total and individual compounds. Daidzein, genistein, and their respective 4′-methoxy derivatives biochanin A and formononetin, were detected in leaves and quantified by GC/FID and GC/MS methods. A large variation among genotypes for individual compounds and for the total isoflavone concentration was observed. Total isoflavones were measured in the range 0.8-13.4 mg/g fresh weight (0.3-4.5% dry matter). Daidzein was usually present in lower amount compared to the other isoflavones. Genistein and biochanin A were found in most cases in higher concentration than formononetin. Phyto-oestrogens have been shown to have both oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic properties, and their effects entail a positive role for the human health. T. subterraneum revealed the presence of higher concentration of isoflavones compared to other sources of these compounds, e.g. soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). This study provided information on the biodiversity of the natural strains from Sardinia, emphasizing the importance of these genetic resources for their variation in the amount of total and individual isoflavones.


1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (83) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Simpson

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), white clover (T. repens) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) were each grown in association with cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) for three years in field microplots with periodic removal of herbage. The three legumes produced quite different effects on the nitrogen uptake of the grass and the nitrogen content of the underlying soil. The total nitrogen input to the plant-soil system by subterranean clover was only about half that by either of the two perennial legumes. However, subterranean clover continually donated the most nitrogen to the grass. White clover also increased the nitrogen yield of the grass during the second year, but in the third year, severe competition caused a 45 per cent mortality of grass plants and nitrogen transfer was reduced. Both clovers released about 40 per cent of their apparent nitrogen inputs, distributed between the grass and the soil ; thus soil nitrogen under white clover increased by 160 kg N ha-1 year-1. Lucerne put the most nitrogen into the system but produced only transient increases in grass nitrogen yield. Twenty-one per cent of the apparent nitrogen input of lucerne was donated to the soil.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 850 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti

The effects of inoculum level, and temperature and humidity regimes on the development of Cercospora blackstem disease (caused by Cercospora zebrina) in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) were investigated. Mycelial fragments were an effective and reliable inoculum. The incidence, severity, and the rate of disease development increased with increasing period of high humidity after inoculation and with increasing concentrations of inoculum. Disease was greatest at 18/13� (12/12 h, day/ night), followed by 21/16�C, and then l5/10�C While all cultivars of T. subterraneum sprayed with hyphal fragments of C. zebrina became infected, Trikkala and Larisa showed some resistance. Of the alternative pasture legumes, lucerne (Medicago sativa), medic (M. littoralis, M. truncatula), drooping-flowered clover (T. cernuum), strawberry clover (T. fragiferum), rose clover (T. hirtum) and white clover (T. repens) were all susceptible; only serradella (Ornithopus compressus) was resistant.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bidhyut Kumar Banik ◽  
Zoey Durmic ◽  
William Erskine ◽  
Phillip Nichols ◽  
Kioumars Ghamkhar ◽  
...  

Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) is an important annual pasture legume for the wheatbelt of southern Australia and has been found to have lower levels of methane output than other pasture legumes when fermented by rumen microbes. Thirty accessions of the biserrula core germplasm collection were grown in the glasshouse to examine intra-specific variability in in vitro rumen fermentation, including methane output. One biserrula cultivar (Casbah) was also grown at two field locations to confirm that low methanogenic potential was present in field-grown samples. All of the biserrula accessions had significantly reduced methane [range 0.5–8.4 mL/g dry matter (DM)] output compared with subterranean clover (28.4 mL/g DM) and red clover (36.1 mL/g DM). There was also significant variation in fermentability profiles (except for volatile fatty acids) among accessions of the core collection. Methanogenic potential exhibited 86% broad-sense heritability within the biserrula core collection. The anti-methanogenic and gas-suppressing effect of biserrula was also confirmed in samples grown in the field. In conclusion, biserrula showed variability in in vitro fermentation traits including reduced methane production compared with controls. This bioactivity of biserrula also persists in the field, indicating scope for further selection of biserrula as an elite methane-mitigating pasture.


1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 915 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Simpson

The extent of underground transference of nitrogen from three pasture legumes, each growing in association with a grass, has been studied in pot culture under several systems of management during the first 12–18 months after sowing. The three legumes performed quite differently. Subterranean clover did not release any nitrogen until senescence and then produced a rapid transference. White clover was competitive for nitrogen until the autumn-winter period. Lucerne released nitrogen gradually over the whole experimental period. Frequent defoliation of the legumes reduced competition for nitrogen by white clover but also reduced transference from the other legumes. Killing the perennial legumes produced only a small temporary increase in transference. Wilting and temporary drying treatments also reduced the transference. Thus there was no evidence that the nitrogen transference from lucerne was due to a shedding or decay of nodules induced by defoliation; it could equally well be due to direct excretion of nitrogen from the intact root system. The significance of the results in pasture establishment in infertile areas is discussed.


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