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Some effects of added phosphorus on perennial ryegrass—white clover swards
Author(s) -
ACUÑA P G. H.,
WILMAN D.
Publication year - 1993
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.1365-2494.1993.tb01876.x
Subject(s) - stolon , lolium perenne , perennial plant , trifolium repens , agronomy , biology , dry matter , sowing , phosphorus , lolium , chemistry , poaceae , organic chemistry
The effect of applying 100kg P ha ‐1 per year in the form of triple superphosphate to mixed swards of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) and white clover ( Trifolium repens ) was examined on a soil of low P status. The dry matter yield of total herbage was increased by 10′/i by added P. In the year of sowing the ryegrass benefited more than the clover from added P: in the subsequent four years the two species benefited equally. Both species responded 10 added P to a similar extent in terms of leaf size; the clover responded less well than the ryegrass in terms of rate of leaf emergence. However, clover responded positively to added P in terms of stolon internode length, length of stolon per m 2 and number of growing points per m 2 . It is suggested that the application of P may promote the spread of white clover within an open sward, but that its application may not enhance the competitive power of white clover when growing with vigorous grasses.