This year SFS through funding from the Tasmanian Seed Industry Group (TSIG) is running a project looking to increase the yield potential in Tasmanian white clover seed production crops.

The trials are designed to investigate this through differing row spacings of current commercial standard practice of 10 to 18 cm, and wider spacings of 30 cm (New Zealand standard practice), 45 cm, and 60cm. Image 1 show the differing row spacings.

New Zealand producers have found that wider row spacings allow for individual plants to spread out, leading to greater stolon development in the clover plant producing more flowers and seeds as a whole.

The trial has been replicated across multiple farmers paddocks and management of the trials is the same as the wider paddock.

Several assessments have been taken so far including;

• soil samples,
• several canopy and NDVI assessments,
• stolon assessments,
• weed assessments, and
• dry matter biomass cuts to coincide with grazing and farmer ‘topping’ of the greater paddock.

Flower density assessments and overall seed production assessments will be in the trial’s future, with results expected early next year. Thanks to our site hosts for hosting the trials.

 By Grace Evans, SFS Senior Research & Extension Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trial Supporters/Funders: Tasmanian Seed Industry Group 

Trial Location/s: Burlington, Formosa, Mt Vernon