SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1939, Page 9

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER

GROWTH ON SHINGLE PLAINS. EXPERIENCE IN WAIRARAPA DISTRICT. There can be few soil types on which subterranean clover is more valuable than the shingly flats of the main Wairarapa Valley, states Mr N. Lamont, Instructor in Agriculture, Masterton, in the “Journal of Agriculture.” The climate and soil type combine to suppress all pasture-growth for a period in normal summers, and production is confined to the autumn, winter and spring. Furthermore, the severe baking that the soil receives brings aoout depletion of soil nitrogen and humus reserves and, as a result, a winter-growing legume such as subterranean clover is absolutely invaluable. In an area near Featherston which, although lightly stocked, had received only moderate dressings of lime and superphosphate, a tremendous bulk of growth is apparent while little imagination is required to understand the fertility-building effect of this, vigorous clover. 1 Indeed, innumerable examples are available of this effect particularly in regard to the increase in rye-grass that takes place in a sward in which vigorous subterranean clover has been present for two or three years. In fact, on similar shingly country, but nearer F the ranges, where summer showers are more frequent subterranean clover has proved an important factor in preparing the ground for white clover.

Methods of establishment have already been fully dealt with and little need jbe said except to emphasize the importance of keeping all stock off a newly-sown area until the young plants are past the seedling stage. Late-spring spelling is also advisable in the first year or two to enable plants to produce long runners and thicken up the stand, but once this has been achieved no harm can be done by ordinary stocking in the .spring. There are two points of general management which are important, but which have not been greatly stressed in the past. The first concerns the obtaining of maximum winter and early spring growth from subterranean clover. There is no need to stress the value pf production at this time of the year. The general poor growth of plants in the winter is due partly to low temperatures and partly to absence of sunlight. The former is, of course, beyond our control, but we can aid a plant to overcome the latter to some extent by allowing it to. develop 'as much leaf area as possible. In practice this means spelling until the end of June, followed by intermittent grazing during July and August. This practice definitely results in unusually high carrying-capacities during the lean period and can be recommended as an excellent means of providing extra feed at this time.

SOURCE OF SUMMER FEED. The other point concerns the feeding value of the dry stalks, leaves and burrs during the summer, and any who have read Australian articles on subterranean clover will be aware that In that country very considerable importance is attached to it. Similar experience is now being reported in this district, and it is being found that the dry mass of material that results from the growth indicated can be regarded as a useful summer supplement for dry stock with adequate water-supply. In short, although little summer production can be expected from this type of country, such as there is will be increased by the use of subterranean clover, while over the rest of the ycai many times the present production can be definitely expected.