Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:37:24.654Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Response of white clover and grass to applications of potassium and nitrogen on a potassium-deficient hill soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Simpson ,
D. Wilman  and
W. A. Adams
D. Simpson
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Department of Biochemistry, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 3DD
D. Wilman
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Department of Biochemistry, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 3DD
W. A. Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Department of Biochemistry, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 3DD
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

All combinations of four levels of potassium and two of nitrogen were applied in each of 2 years to a hill sward on a brown podzolic soil with an 8 cm peaty surface horizon anda very low level of extractable K. The sward had been surface-sown 11 years before with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). During the course of the experiment, harvesting was by cutting, with an average interval between cuts of 5 weeks. The previous management had been sheep grazing.

The proportion of clover in harvested herbage was increased by applied K and reduced by applied N. The clover grew strongly in the 1st year of cutting management where K, but no N, was applied, but there was much less clover in the 2nd year on all plots. The concentration of K in both clover and grass was greatly increased by applied K, but only the clover responded strongly in terms of extra herbage produced. This suggests that grass growth was N-limited, whereas the clover had sufficient N from symbiotic fixation.

Applied K increased the size and weight of clover leaves, the rate of extension of the stolon main axis, and the number and length of stolon branches, but did not affect the rate of emergence of leaves on the stolon main axis. Applied N had a generally negative effect on the aspects of clover growth and morphology which were measured. The length and weight per ryegrass leaf blade were generally slightly increased by both applied K and applied N.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 110 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 159 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrew, C. S.Robins, M. F. (1969). The effect of potassium on the growth and chemical composition of some tropical and temperate pasture legumes. I. Growth and critical percentages of potassium. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 20, 999–1007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faithfull, N. T. (1971). Automated simultaneous determination of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium on the same herbage digest solution. Laboratory Practice 20, 41–44.Google Scholar
Faithfull, N. T. (1974). The analysis of magnesium in herbage Kjeldahl digests by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with the nitrous oxide/acetylene flame. Laboratory Practice 23, 177–178.Google Scholar
Floate, M. J. S., Rangeley, A.Bolton, G. R. (1981). An investigation of problems of sward improvement on deep peat with special reference to potassium responses and interactions with lime and phosphorus. Grass and Forage Science 36, 81–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hollinoton, P. A.Wilman, D. (1985). Effects of white clover and fertilizer nitrogen on clover and grass leaf dimensions, percentage cover and numbers of leaves and tillers. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 104, 595–607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linehan, P. A.Lowe, J. (1961). Yielding capacity and grass/clover ratio of herbage swards as influenced by fertilizer treatments. Proceedings of the Eighth International Grassland Congress, Reading, 1960, pp. 133–137.Google Scholar
McNaught, K. J. (1958). Potassium deficiency in pastures. I. Potassium content of legumes and grasses. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 1, 148–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food(1985 a). While Clover. Pamphlet3009.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1985 b). Fertiliser Recommendations 1985–86. RB209. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1985 c). Pwllpeiran Experimental Husbandry Farm Annual Review 1985.Google Scholar
Rangeley, A.Newbould, P. (1982). Herbage analysis and fertiliser responses of white clover in hill pastures. In Plant Nutrition 1982, vol. 2 (ed. Scaife, A.), pp. 521–526. Proceedings of the Ninth International Plant Nutrition Colloquium, Warwick, 1982.Google Scholar
Reid, D. (1980). The effects of rates of potassium application on the production and quality of herbage from a perennial ryegrass sward receiving a wide range of nitrogen rates. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 95, 83–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reith, J. W. S., Robertson, R. A.Inkson, R. H. E. (1973). The nutrient requirements of herbage on deep acid peat. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 80, 425–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rudeforth, C. C., Hartnup, R., Lea, J. W., Thompson, T. R. E.Wright, P. S. (1984). Soils and their use in Wales. Bulletin no. 11. Harpenden: Soil Survey of England and Walesubn.Google Scholar
Simpson, D., Wilman, D.Adams, W. A. (1987). The distribution of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and grasses within six sown hill swards. Journal of Applied Ecology 24, 201–216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spencer, K.Govaars, A. G. (1982). The potassium status of pastures in the Moss Vale district, New South Wales. Technical Paper no. 38. Australia: Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.Google Scholar
Underwood, E. J. (1981).The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock, 2nd edn.Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
Wilman, D.Hollington, P. A. (1985). Effects of white clover and fertilizer nitrogen on herbage production and chemical composition and soil water. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 104, 453–467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar