The perennial pasture legume tedera has the same requirement for phosphorus and is more efficient in using potassium and sulfur when compared to subterranean clover
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-7-2019
Journal Title
Journal of Plant Nutrition
ISSN
ISSN: 0190-4167 eISSN: 1532-4087
Keywords
herbage production, phosphorous, potassium, relative yield, subterranean clover, sulfur, tedera, tissue concentration
Disciplines
Agronomy and Crop Sciences
Abstract
Tedera, (Bituminaria bituminosa C.H. Stirt var. albomarginata) a herbaceous deep rooted perennial legume is being evaluated as a summer-autumn feed for sheep production in South Western Australia (SWA). As soils of SWA are generally infertile it was necessary to determine the requirement of phosphorous (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) for growth of tedera compared with subterranean clover. This was carried out using four glasshouse experiments. Results showed that tedera has the same requirement for P application, about 40% lower for K and none for S compared to subterranean clover. Critical tissue concentrations for 90% maximum yield of herbage were also determined. Results showed tedera required about one and half times more P, about half the K in the tissue compared to subterranean clover. Tedera showed no herbage response to additions of S. This study warrants further investigation under both glasshouse and field conditions.
Recommended Citation
Hardy, J. L. M., Brennan, R. F., & Real, D. (2019). The perennial pasture legume tedera has the same requirement for phosphorus and is more efficient in using potassium and sulfur when compared to subterranean clover. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 42(9), 1016–1027. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2019.1589499