YIELD AND BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF KURA CLOVER-GRASS MIXTURES UNDER GRAZING

摘要

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) is a rhizomatous perennial legume that appears to have tremendous pasture potential, but little is known about its compatibility with perennial grasses adapted to the north central US under grazing. We evaluated 'Endura' kura clover-grass mixtures under rotational stocking by sheep or goats for four years at two locations in Minnesota. Kura clover percentage in mixture with Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratemis L.) or timothy (Phleum pratense L.) often exceeded 60%, indicating significant bloat potential. Kura clover mixtures with reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were more evenly balanced, with the mixture with reed canarygrass consistently being among the highest yielding mixtures. We conclude that reed canarygrass appears to have the greatest agronomic compatibility with kura clover in Minnesota and that orchardgrass may be equally compatible in cool, moist environments with consistent snow cover.