Effect of closing date on potential seed yields from ‘grasslands huia’ and ‘grasslands pitau’ white clovers

Abstract

For ‘Huia’ and ‘Pitau’ white clover stands in their second productive season, growing on a moisture-retentive Wakanui silt loam in Canterbury, closing dates for seed crops were mid September, mid October, mid November, and mid December. With mid October closing as a control treatment, over two seasons mid November closing resulted in a higher seed yield, but closing later than this markedly reduced seed yield (500 kg/ha to 230 kg/ha). The effect of mid December closings was not attributable to moisture deficiency. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.