Legume production and nitrogen fixation in hill pasture communities

摘要

Abstract The production, species composition, and nitrogen (N) fixation in five resident communities varying in pasture species and land slope were examined for a developed hill country paddock. The communities (and main legume species) were stock camp (white clover), gentle slope (white clover), gentle slope (subterranean clover), steep slope (subterranean clover), and steep slope (Lotus angustissimus L. and L. suaveolens Pers.). Annual dry matter (DM) production was 14310, 9640, 6420, 5330, and 4150 kg/ha respectively. These differences were largely caused by the grass component, in particular ryegrass, which yielded 7830, 3160, 1860, 1010, and 110 kg DM/ha per yr respectively. There was relatively little difference in annual production by legumes (1480–2090 kg DM/ha), but marked seasonal differences occurred. Most white clover growth occurred during summer — autumn, most subterranean clover growth during spring, and most lotus spp. growth during winter—spring. There was relatively little variability in...