The 2008 Joint Meeting of the Society for Range Management and the America Forage and Grassland Council. |
Monday, January 28, 2008
15
Growth, Flowering, and Productivity of Crimson Clover Varieties in Spring and Autumn Planting
Joung Kyong Lee1, Hee Chung Ji1, Ki Yong Kim1, Gi Jun Choi1, Won Ho Kim1, Keun Bal Lim1, Hyung Soo Park2, and Sung Seo1. (1) Grassland & Forages Division, National Institute of Animal Science, 9 Eoyongri, Seonghwan, Cheonan, South Korea, (2) Livestock Division, National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, 1696 Odeungdong, Jeju, South Korea
Crimson clover is one of the most important annual clovers. It is used as forage for livestock, soil conservation, green manure crop and a source of pollen and nectar for bees. There are many varieties of crimson clover but, currently, they are no longer in commercial use. This research was conducted to evaluate the characteristics and productivities of crimson clover varieties in spring and autumn planting in terms of availability as forage, green manure and amenity. The study was conducted at the experimental field of Grassland & Forage Crops Division, National Institute of Animal Science in 2006 and 2007. In spring, Tibbee, Tardivo, Linkarus, Contea and Diogene were planted on March 10, 2006. In autumn, eight varieties including Blaza, INTA, KAR and the five varieties in spring were sown on September 5, 2006. The results of crimson clover spring planting shows that most of the varieties have low productivities indicating their low economic value. Linkarus can be useful forage because of its high fresh yield due to its excellent leafiness and late flowering. Diogene is good for green manure due to its early flowering and fast degradation. The result of autumn planting indicates high productivities of most varieties of crimson clover due to great increased in yield than in spring planting. Because of their late flowering, good leafiness and high dry matter yield, Contea, if harvested early, and INTA, if harvested late, can be good forage. Tardivo is a good amenity crop due to its long flowering period, and it can also be a useful forage crop when harvested late because of its high dry matter yield, second to INTA.