A MANAGEMENT STUDY OF A BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL STRAIN TRIAL

A study of birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.) variety trial management was conducted with three variables, variety, stubble height and harvest date. The range in maturity for the three varieties used was 12-14 days. All plots were harvested thrice per season. The harvest dates for the two management regimes imposed differed by about two weeks for the first cut, by about one week for the second and were identical for the third cut. Stubble heights were two and six inches (5.08 and 15.24 cm).
Late-cut material outyielded that cut early, but suffered more winter damage. Material cut at a stubble height of two inches (5.08 cm) outyielded that cut at six inches (15.24 cm), but it also suffered more winter-killing. The ranking of varieties varied with management.
Alternative management schemes, designed to provide maximum yields and survival consistent with good-quality forage, are proposed and discussed.