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Growth, morphology and biological nitrogen fixation potential of perennial ryegrass-white clover swards throughout the grazing season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2018

C. Guy ,
D. Hennessy ,
T. J. Gilliland ,
F. Coughlan  and
B. McCarthy
C. Guy*
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland The Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland
D. Hennessy
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
T. J. Gilliland
Affiliation:
The Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough, BT26 6DR, Ireland
F. Coughlan
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
B. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
*
Author for correspondence: C. Guy, E-mail: clare.guy@teagasc.ie
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Abstract

Sustainable ruminant production systems depend on the ability of livestock to utilize increased quantities of grazed herbage. The current study aimed to compare the effect of white clover (WC) inclusion and perennial ryegrass (PRG) ploidy on herbage dry matter (DM) production, plant morphology, nutritive value and biological nitrogen (N) fixation (BNF) under high N fertilizer use (250 kg N/ha) and high stocking rates (2.75 livestock units/ha). Four sward treatments (diploid-only, tetraploid-only, diploid-WC, tetraploid-WC) were evaluated over a full grazing season at a farmlet scale. White clover inclusion had a significant effect on herbage DM production, herbage growth rate, tiller density, organic matter digestibility, crude protein and BNF. Tetraploid swards had a lower tiller density, lower sward WC content and post-grazing sward height and increased organic matter digestibility and crude protein than diploid swards. White clover inclusion improved herbage DM production and nutritive value across a full grazing season, with tetraploid and diploid swards producing similar herbage DM yields across the year. Perennial ryegrass ploidy had an effect on WC morphology as plants in diploid-WC swards had narrower, longer stolons, fewer branches and more petioles than tetraploid-WC swards. The current study highlights the benefit of including WC in grass-based systems under a high N fertilizer regime and high stocking rate.

Keywords

Herbage DM productionherbage nutritive valueLolium perenne L.perennial ryegrass ploidystolon morphologyTrifolium repens L.
Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 156 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 188 - 199
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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