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Yield of white clover and its fixation of nitrogen as influenced by nutritional and soil factors under controlled environment conditions
Author(s) -
Whitehead David C.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740331209
Subject(s) - trifolium repens , yield (engineering) , agronomy , soil water , petiole (insect anatomy) , nitrogen , nutrient , nitrogen fixation , chemistry , organic matter , cultivar , zoology , biology , botany , ecology , hymenoptera , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
White clover ( Trifolium repens L. cv. Blanca) was grown in 21 UK soils. Yield and N concentration in the herbage (leaf + petiole) were determined at six successive harvests and were related to the supplies of major nutrient elements (as indicated by analysis of the herbage) and to various soil properties. The amount of N 2 fixed was estimated by subtraction of the soil N supply from the total amount in the clover. The results suggest that critical concentrations (i.e. concentrations just less than those required for maximum growth) of K, Ca and S in the leaf + petiole after 4 weeks regrowth were approximately 1.4%, 1.3% and <0.16% respectively. The relationship between herbage yield and concentration of N suggests a critical concentration in leaf + petiole of about 3.5% N; lower values probably reflect sub‐optimum rates of N 2 fixation and higher values, a restriction of clover growth per se. A reduction in herbage yield attributable to deficiency of K and/or Ca appeared to occur on some soils at harvests 5 and 6, but for any one soil, yield changed little between harvests 2 and 4 inclusive. Differences in herbage yield and in the amount of N 2 fixed over this period were, therefore, examined in relation to various soil properties. Significant positive correlations were obtained between herbage yield and contents of clay, organic matter, water content at 100 cm tension and cation exchange capacity. The amount of N 2 fixed was less closely correlated than was herbage yield with these soil properties.