EVALUATION OF CLOVERS IN DRY HILL COUNTRY .6. SUBTERRANEAN AND WHITE CLOVERS AT WAIRAKEI, NEW-ZEALAND

Nine subterranean clover cultivars and 11 white clover lines were evaluated for persistence and production, under a combination of rotational grazing or cutting, for 4 years on rolling pumice hill country. The most successful subterranean clover cultivars was 'Tallarook', which for 4 years produced the most dry matter (DM) (average 700 kg DM/ha per year) and accumulated the largest soil seed reserve (1500 kg seed/ha). Soil moisture stress over the summer severely limited persistence and hence production of all white clovers (average 400 kg DM/ha per year). Persistence was not assured by larger roots associated with large-leaved lines. Hill country types (e.g., 'Whatawhata Early Flowering') with a high stolon density and/or free seeding ability were the best adapted to this environment.