Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.) - a new legume for pastures in Switzerland? | Le trefle du Caucase (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.), une nouvelle legumineuse pour la pature en Suisse?
2007
Bettler, V. | Thomet, P.,Haute école suisse d'agronomie (HESA), Zollikofen (Switzerland)
The suitability of kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. B.) as a new legume for pastures in Switzerland was tested between 2004 and 2006. A comparison of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and kura clover was set up on three sites representing different soil and weather conditions. This experiment allowed following the yields of the two species sown either as monocultures or in mixtures with the grass compound of the Swiss standardmixture for grazing (480) during three years. Different methods for the establishment of kura clover were compared between 2005 and 2006. In areas characterized by summer dryness the yield proportion of white clover continuously decreased during the three years of the experiment. After a slow and difficult establishment the yield proportion of kura clover increased steadily within the same period. The weak competitive ability of kura clover during its juvenile phase is its most important weakness. It is therefore crucial to choose a variety with high vigour and to use adequate strains of rhizobia for the inoculation of seeds. During the establishment phase it is necessary to limit the competition of other plants.
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