Nitrogen fixation by caucasian clover and white clover in irrigated ryegrass pastures

Abstract

The N₂ fixation ability of caucasian clover was compared with that of white clover in irrigated ryegrass pastures over years 2 and 3 of a grazing experiment, using the ¹⁵N enrichment technique. ‘Endura’ caucasian clover was inoculated with the specific Rhizobium strain ICC148. The N concentration in clover herbage and the proportion of clover N derived from N₂ fixation (PN) were similar for both clovers at averages of 4.6%N and 50–60% respectively over the 2 years. The amount of N₂ fixed per hectare was directly related to the amount of clover dry matter (DM) produced by the two clover species. Caucasian clover produced four times the DM yield of white clover in year 2 (5400 cf. 1450 kg DM/ha) and four times the amount of N₂ fixed in herbage (136 cf. 36 kg N/ ha). In year 3, caucasian clover produced 50% more clover DM (3450 cf. 2370 kg DM/ha) and N₂ fixed (98 cf. 66 kg N/ha) than white clover. The increased N input from caucasian clover increased grass %N and N uptake from soil in caucasian clover pastures resulting in higher total pasture production compared with white clover pastures (15.7 cf. 14.2 t DM/ha) by year 3. In this study, caucasian clover demonstrated greater potential than white clover to meet the N demands of high-yielding perennial ryegrass in an intensive pastoral system.