New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Effects of cutting at different reproductive development stages on aftermath
growth of red clover (Trifolium pratense) in a subtropical montane
environment
Jiangwen Fan
Huaping Zhong
Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing 100101, PR China
Warwick Harris*
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand
*Present address: Lincoln Botanical, 16 Aylmers Valley Road, Akaroa,
New Zealand.
Abstract The use of red clover (Trifolium pratense)
in subtropical montane areas of southern China is reviewed as a preliminary
to an investigation, at Hongchiba, Wuxi County, Chongquing, of the effects
on aftermath growth of cutting at different stages of reproductive development
of a local cultivar ‘Wuxi’ red clover. The reproductive stages were branching,
flower bud formation, flowering, and seed pod formation. The time taken to
reach the defined reproductive stages after cutting, and the height of herbage
and yield at cutting, became less with successive cuts. The greatest rate
of dry matter accumulation was during the branching and flower bud formation
stages. Cutting at the flower bud stage produced the highest total yield
of 13 380 kg DM ha-1 and cutting at the pod stage the least yield
of 10 480 kg DM ha-1. It is recommended that the first cut should
be made about 70 days after the start of spring growth, and the second, third,
and fourth harvests 50, 30, and 35 days after the previous harvests.
Keywords Trifolium pratense; ‘Wuxi’ red clover;
reproductive stage; cutting time; aftermath growth; yield; People’s Republic
of China; subtropical; montane
A03015; Received 7 March 2003; accepted 7 January 2004; Online publication
date 27 May 2004
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2004, Vol. 47: 209-217
0028-8233/04/4702-0209 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (134K) |
screen-quality (120K)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
