EVALUATION OF CLOVERS IN DRY HILL COUNTRY .8. SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER AT BALLANTRAE, NEW-ZEALAND

Herbage production and population regeneration characteristics of nine subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) cultivars were measured on a steep, dry, north-facing hillside at Ballantrae Hill Country Research Station, New Zealand. A close, linear relationship (r = 0.914) between subterranean clover herbage production and flowering date was observed. The latest flowering cultivar, 'Tallarook', gave the highest herbage yields (average = 770 kg dry matter (DM)/ha per year) and, in the latter stages of the evaluation, was superior in seedling regeneration. Exceptions to the general relationship between time of flowering and herbage accumulation were: 'Howard' in 1983/84-higher production than predicted because of exceptionally good seedling regeneration; 'Clare' in both years-lower production because of poor persistence (< 3 years); and 'Mt Barker' in both years-lower production because of poor initial establishment. The mid-late or late-flowering cultivars 'Larisa', 'Mt Barker', and 'Tallarook' all appeared tolerant of intensive sheep grazing and persistent in this environment as a result of their predominantly small-leaved, dense growth habit. A late-flowering cultivar of similar morphology to 'Tallarook', but containing little or no oestrogen, would be best suited to environments similar to Ballantrae.