Evaluation of aluminium-tolerant white clover (Trifolium repens) selections on East Otago upland soils

Abstract

Growth of 15 legumes was monitored for 3 years on 3 Otago upland soils with 11, 45, or 70 μg g-1 extractable soil aluminium (Al). Lotus pedunculatus and L. corniculatus produced the greatest dry matter over the 3 years, with L. pedunculatus producing superior yields at intermediate and high soil Al sites. Within white clover, types selected for Al tolerance produced similar yields to types selected for Al susceptibility, and four commercial white clover cultivars and an alsike clover (Trifolium hybidum). Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum) spread by rhizomes at the high Al site, but neither Lotus species spread from the planted row. Some white clovers showed limited spread. It is concluded that optimising performance of Lotus and Caucasian clover on these soils will be a more productive strategy than breeding for Al-tolerance in white clover.