Contributions of White Clover to the N, P, and Ca Concentration of Perennial Grasses

Abstract

Southern range forages tend to grow vegetatively for 5 months of the year. During the other 7 months, forage available is low in energy and minerals. Cattle are usually grazed on seeded pastures or fed hay from October until May. Growing of a legume with the grass is currently of major interest as it increases energy, N, and minerals as compared to that of the grasses grown alone. Growing white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with any of the five major perennial forage grasses was found to increase the N concentration in the forage produced all season long. Grass forages grown with white clover but without N averaged as high or higher in N concentration than monospecific grass forage fertilized at all N rates up to 336 kg/ha. Phosphorus concentration of the forage was not appreciably influenced by presence of white clover but averaged 0.37% in the spring and 0.26% in the fall, a 30% reduction with season. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) forage had higher P concentrations than did the warm-season perennials Coastal and common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.). Ca concentration of the forage was directly related to quantity of clover present. Including white clover with the perennial grasses would significantly increase the N and Ca concentrations of the forage as compared to the grass alone. The increases in concentrations of N and Ca would significantly improve the nutritional quality of the grass forages being grown.