Subterranean Clover

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 65, Issue 5, 16 November 1942, Page 285

Subterranean Clover

By

M. DAVEY,

Orchard Instructor, Masterton

Valuable Cover Crop in Orchards

IN old-established orchards where the dimensions of the trees exclude light and sunshine, many of the plants most commonly used for cover cropping in orchards such as oats, lupins and tares do not thrive sufficiently well to provide an adequate weight of humus when turned under. With this disability in view a trial of subterranean clover was made in the orchard of Mr. J. H. Kidd, Greytown, in which peas, tares, blue lupins and oats had been tried previously without satisfactory stands resulting. The soil in this orchard consists of a friable loam in which most types of legumes grow well. In mid-March, 1939, a f-acre block containing large and overlapping apple trees was sown with subterranean clover, approximately 31b. of seed being sown to the area. The clover germinated with the first substantial rain.following sowing. Early in the following spring a vigorous growth took place, the crop showing somewhat patchy due to the young plants being smothered by fallen leaves. Good growth was

maintained until about mid-January by which time the stolons or runners had covered most of the ground. After the plants had died down discing was employed but owing to the tough condition of the stems a good coverage was not effected. In consequence the ground was cultivated, resulting in the re-establishment of a splendid stand of seedlings on the first autumn rains. This second crop was much more vigorous than the'first, probably owing to the ground being inoculated by the original plants. ' Good growth was maintained throughout the following winter, resulting in a dense carpet of vegetation. During November while the crop was still succulent it was successfully disced under and the sec-

ond self-sown crop subsequently made good headway. Features of the trial have been as follows: 1. The tolerance of the clover to densely-shaded conditions, the plants thriving close up to the trunks of the trees. r . 2. The conservation of moisture by the mat of foliage. 3. No annual cost of seeding. 4. Economy of cultivation. The extraordinary increase in regeneration of the plants by self-sown seed suggests that lib. of seed to the acre would give equally good results and that some cultivation may ultimately. become necessary in established crops .to avoid overcrowding of the plants.

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