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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300147
Title: Growth of bermudagrass with white clover or nitrogen fertilizer

Author
item LANG, DAVID - Mississippi State University
item DUCKWORTH, JEREMY - Mississippi State University
item RUSSELL, DAVID - Mississippi State University
item Read, John
item WHITE, JOSHUA - Mississippi State University
item LEMUS, ROCKY - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2013
Publication Date: 11/6/2013
Citation: Lang, D.J., Duckworth, J., Russell, D., Read, J.J., White, J., Lemus, R.W. 2013. Growth of bermudagrass with white clover or nitrogen fertilizer. Agronomy Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy Meetings, November 4-6, 2013, Tampa, FL. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: White clover (Trifolium repens) var ‘Durana’ was oversown into established bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) in 2009. Soil analysis indicated potassium (K) was low and potash at 112 and 336 kg/ha was added as main plots. Nitrogen as ammonium nitrate or an ammonium sulfate/urea blend was added as 0, 34 and 67 kg N/ha in 2011 after each harvest (3x) and May and July in 2012 (2x). Clover stands were estimated by counting the presence or absence of clover within two 0.25 m2 quadrats divided into 16 equally spaced squares. The contribution of white clover in the sward was determined by separating hand clipped samples into clover, bermuda and other species on a dry weight basis. Plots (2x5 m) were harvested with a rotary or flail mower and grab samples were air-dried at 55 C for 3 days to determine dry matter. Samples were ground to pass a 1-mm sieve and analyzed for protein by NIRS. Yield in 2011 with white clover as the N source was 8373 kg ha-1 compared with 9492 or 9908 kg ha-1 for 34 and 67 kg N ha-1, respectively, or 88 to 85%, indicating that white clover can provide up to 100 kg N ha-1. Yield response to potash was minimal, but statistically significant (P<0.05). Ammonium sulfate/urea was also slightly more effective than ammonium nitrate in 2011 (P<0.05), but not in 2012. White clover provides a viable source of nitrogen that can reduce production costs.