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The effect of nitrogen in spring on shoot number and leaf area of white clover in mixtures
Author(s) -
DENNIS W. D.,
WOLEDGE JANE
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1987.tb02115.x
Subject(s) - stolon , perennial plant , shoot , fertilizer , agronomy , biology , nitrogen , nitrogen fertilizer , trifolium repens , horticulture , chemistry , organic chemistry
Swards of perennial ryegrass/white clover were cut to 3 cm in March and allowed to regrow for approximately thirteen weeks. Half the swards received nitrogenous fertilizer at the time of cutting (+N treatment) while the other half received none (—N treatment). About four weeks after the application of treatments, the number of clover shoots in the — N treatment was significantly higher than that in the +N; at this stage total leaf area index on both treatments was low, but significantly greater in the + N. After 30 days, more light was reaching ground level in the — N treatments, and about 40 days after cutting there was between 17 and 50% more clover in the — N treatment than the +N. It is suggested that the inhibition of stolon branching with a consequent restriction in the rate of increase of clover leaf area is a major factor in the adverse effect of N fertilizer on clover.