Good results with red clover at Denmark Research Station

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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3

Volume 5

Number 5 September-October, 1956 Article 11

9-1956

Good results with red clover at Denmark Research Station Good results with red clover at Denmark Research Station

F. E. Ryan

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

Ryan, F. E. (1956) "Good results with red clover at Denmark Research Station," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 5: No. 5, Article 11.

Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol5/iss5/11

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GOOD RESULTS WITH

RED CLOVER AT

DENMARK

RESEARCH STATION

B y F . E. R Y A N , Agrostologist

Stems of Red Clover at different stages of bloom.

"Il/JOST dairyfarmers are familiar with red clover under the name of Giant Colonial - ' " cow-grass, but only a few know t h a t many strains of this valuable pasture and hay legume occur. One of the most promising of these strains is Montgomery red clover which is recognised as a grazing strain in England and New Zealand.

Very little red clover is grown at present in the dairying areas but much more of it was grown in the earlier days of settle- ment, particularly in t h e more southerly portions of the South-West. One reason for the decline in popularity h a s been the ease with which subterranean clover can be grown. Another reason is t h a t red clover is susceptible to lucerne flea and red-legged e a r t h mite, and, in the past, failures due to these pests have discour- aged its use.

Now t h a t suitable control of both mite and flea are available, the possibilities of red clover becoming more popular must be considered.

TRIALS AT DENMARK

The two strains, Montgomery red clover and Giant Colonial cow-grass, were sown at Denmark Research Station during t h e winter of 1954. Each was sown a t the rate of 81b. per acre. The paddock is a summer- moist one with sandy loam soil and p r e -

Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956555

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viously carried a crop of maize. When the maize was removed t h e land was cultivated a n d t h e two clovers sown in duplicated strips. Seed was sown in J u n e 1954.

These strips were t h e n cross-stripped w i t h several ryegrasses, including peren- nial ryegrass, short rotation ryegrass and Wimmera ryegrass.

Germination was good and clover plants grew well, even in t h e wet winter period.

As t h e ground warmed up in t h e spring both clovers made very vigorous growth.

Montgomery red clover was t h e more successful of t h e two varieties and a very thick s t a n d of p l a n t s was obtained. By November, both varieties had produced an excellent bulk of fodder and were grazed a t this time. During this spring period, they completely overshadowed the ryegrasses a n d these failed to persist after t h e first summer. This is probably related to t h e time of sowing t h e ryegrasses in winter when they were unable to make vigorous growth.

Following the grazing in November, dry conditions were experienced during J a n - u a r y a n d February a n d further growth of t h e red clovers ceased during this period.

After February rains, however, they again m a d e very vigorous growth and were grazed off in March. Excellent recovery from this grazing was recorded so t h a t the a r e a was ready for grazing again in April.

At each grazing Montgomery red clover was superior in the bulk of its production to Giant Colonial cow-grass.

Excellent results were again obtained on these plots during the 1955-56 summer season. An early spring grazing was ob- t a i n e d a n d excellent recovery was recorded by October 1955. The strips were grazed at t h a t time a n d again in November and in J a n u a r y . J a n u a r y a n d February were ex- tremely dry, a n d recovery from rain which fell in March was somewhat slow, but b o t h clovers are still persisting and will be subjected t o further grazing during 1956.

Throughout the course of this trial Montgomery red clover proved more satis- factory t h a n G i a n t Colonial cow-grass. I t provided a more vigorous growth and a thicker a n d more uniform s t a n d on both strips. T h e cow-grass t h i n n e d out in patches a n d to some extent was replaced with s u b t e r r a n e a n clover. The yield of

the two varieties was measured just prior to each grazing with the exception of one grazing taken in the early spring of 1955.

From J u n e 1954 to J a n u a r y 1956, a period of 19 months, over 5 tons of air- dry forage per acre was obtained from the Montgomery red clover strips as compared with 4 tons 5 cwt. obtained from the Giant Colonial cow-grass strips. This trial has shown very clearly t h a t red clover is cap- able of growing on moist or semi moist- areas in the Denmark area and producing high yields under a grazing programme.

Of the two varieties tested, Montgomery red clover proved • superior.

Red clover is normally sown either in the early a u t u m n or in the spring. I n this trial it was planted in J u n e following a maize crop with very successful results.

This shows t h a t red clover is a n excellent crop to follow maize on summer moist areas. It can thus fit very readily into a rotation on dairy farms where maize is commonly grown for summer fodder production but usually following the maize crop, very little a t t e m p t is made to use the land during the next winter and spring.

From this trial it is clear t h a t the red clovers can be expected to produce heavily for at least two years following a maize crop and in seasons which are not so dry as t h a t experienced in 1955-56, they would be expected to continue growth for a longer period. There is some evidence t h a t it may be held for considerably longer periods. As t h e red clover thins out, the paddock can be again cultivated and sown back to a pasture species or may return to a crop of maize.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The field work for this trial was carried out by the Manager of t h e Denmark Re- search Station, Mr. V. Weston and his assistant, Mr. A. James and their services in this regard are acknowledged.

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