Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is at a disadvantage to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) due to its limited cold tolerance and low growth rates at colder temperatures, which can affect subsequent spring herbage dry matter (DM) availability. The effect of PRG ploidy on white clover morp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Compuscript Ltd
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0132 |
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| author | C. Guy T. J. Gilliland D. Hennessy F. Coughlan B. McCarthy |
| author_facet | C. Guy T. J. Gilliland D. Hennessy F. Coughlan B. McCarthy |
| author_sort | C. Guy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is at a disadvantage to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) due to its limited cold tolerance and low growth rates at colder temperatures, which can affect subsequent spring herbage dry matter (DM) availability. The effect of PRG ploidy on white clover morphology and growth over winter, and its subsequent recovery in spring and the following growing season, is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of white clover inclusion and PRG ploidy on sward structure, plant morphology and growth of PRG–white clover swards over winter. Four swards (diploid PRG only, tetraploid PRG only, diploid PRG–white clover and tetraploid PRG–white clover) were evaluated over a full winter period (November–February) at a farmlet scale. The PRG ploidy had no effect on herbage DM production, white clover content or tissue turnover (P > 0.05) over winter. However, white clover inclusion caused a significant decrease in herbage DM production (P < 0.001; −254 kg DM/ha) and tiller density (P < 0.001; −1,953 tillers/m2) over winter. Stolon mass was not affected by PRG ploidy (P > 0.05); however, stolon length and number of leaves per stolon were affected by PRG ploidy (P < 0.05). Including white clover in PRG swards can alter winter sward dynamics, potentially causing difficulties in subsequent spring management and performance due to the reduced over-winter growth rate when compared with PRG. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:14:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ab4a31e137e436b9c2d638c7cc4422c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2009-9029 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:14:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Compuscript Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ab4a31e137e436b9c2d638c7cc4422c2023-04-06T06:27:07ZengCompuscript LtdIrish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research2009-90292021-11-0160111412810.15212/ijafr-2020-0132Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winterC. Guy0T. J. Gilliland1D. Hennessy2F. Coughlan3B. McCarthy4Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, IrelandThe Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, IrelandWhite clover (Trifolium repens L.) is at a disadvantage to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) due to its limited cold tolerance and low growth rates at colder temperatures, which can affect subsequent spring herbage dry matter (DM) availability. The effect of PRG ploidy on white clover morphology and growth over winter, and its subsequent recovery in spring and the following growing season, is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of white clover inclusion and PRG ploidy on sward structure, plant morphology and growth of PRG–white clover swards over winter. Four swards (diploid PRG only, tetraploid PRG only, diploid PRG–white clover and tetraploid PRG–white clover) were evaluated over a full winter period (November–February) at a farmlet scale. The PRG ploidy had no effect on herbage DM production, white clover content or tissue turnover (P > 0.05) over winter. However, white clover inclusion caused a significant decrease in herbage DM production (P < 0.001; −254 kg DM/ha) and tiller density (P < 0.001; −1,953 tillers/m2) over winter. Stolon mass was not affected by PRG ploidy (P > 0.05); however, stolon length and number of leaves per stolon were affected by PRG ploidy (P < 0.05). Including white clover in PRG swards can alter winter sward dynamics, potentially causing difficulties in subsequent spring management and performance due to the reduced over-winter growth rate when compared with PRG.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0132perennial ryegrass ploidystolon morphologytissue turnovertrifolium repens l |
| spellingShingle | C. Guy T. J. Gilliland D. Hennessy F. Coughlan B. McCarthy Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research perennial ryegrass ploidy stolon morphology tissue turnover trifolium repens l |
| title | Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter |
| title_full | Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter |
| title_fullStr | Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter |
| title_short | Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter |
| title_sort | changes in sward structure plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass white clover swards over winter |
| topic | perennial ryegrass ploidy stolon morphology tissue turnover trifolium repens l |
| url | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2020-0132 |
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