Cultivars and polycross progenies of white clover associated with grasses

Abstract

From April 1980 to June 1981, 26 progenies and eight cultivars of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) associated with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum saurae (Parodi) Parodi) were evaluated. The experiment was performed at the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Guaíba, RS, Brazil. The total dry matter (DM) yield (kg/ha) ranged from 4,112 kg/ha in the association with the cultivar Huia to 9,041 kg/ha with the progeny 78-510. DM yield of pure white clover ranged from 1,954 kg/ha (Huia cultivar) to 7,275 kg/ha (78-530 progeny). Crude protein yield ranged from 478 kg/ha in the association with Huia cultivar to 1,353 kg/ha (78-519 progeny). Hydrocianic acid yields were relatively low. All progenies and cultivars had a good persistence during the 1981 summer. Pensacola bahiagrass, due to its slow establishment and competition with the other species did not contribute to forage production.