Study on the Use of Orchargrass-Red Clover mixture II. Effect of seed rate of orchargrass-red clover on herbage yield and quality

Orchargrass-Red Clover 혼파이용에 관한 연구 II. Orchargrass-Red Clover 파종비율이 목초의 수량과 품질에 미치는 영향

This experiment was conducted over a 3-year period (1990-1992) to evaluate the production and quality of orchardgrass (Potomac)-red clover (Kenland) mixture when orchardgrass + red clover mixture was sown at seed rates of 20+0. 18+2, 16+4, 14+6 and 12+8 kg/ha. Total herbage dry matter, crude protein and digestible organic matter production and organic matter intake were markedly affected by increasing rcd clover seed rate, those increased with increasing red clovcr seed rate due to the cnhancernent of red clover percentage of total herbagc in all 3-year. but significant differences occured between the orchardgrass alone and orchardgrass-red clover mixture with a seed rate of 4,6 and 8 kg/ha red clover (P<0.01). But on the other hand increasing red clover seed rate increased red clover percentage in total herbage, the mean red clover percentage of total herbage at the last cutting ranged from 54 to 65% in first year. 58 to 60% in second year, and 62 to 69% in third year, particularly it was observed that red clover was sown at seed rates of 6 and 8 kg/ha for red clover sown dominated strongly as the cutting times were progressed. Considering the maintenance of good botanical composition balance and the enhancement of production and quality of herbage, the optimized seed rate for orchardgrass-red clover mixtures, 16 kg/ha orchardgrass and 4 kg/ha red clover seems to be considered adequate.