WHITE CLOVER AND HILL LAND IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

As a preliminary step in the development of improved bred varieties an examination has been made of the factors which contribute to the success or failure of white clover ( Trifolium repens ) in hill land reseeding. Severe restrictions are placed on clover performance and N fixation in many hill areas in Britain by the poor climate, the low pH and exchangeable base status of the soils and the low frequency of effective indigenous Rhizobium strains. Agronomic solutions to some of these problems exist, but experience in mid‐Wales suggests the need for new bred varieties with improved adaptation to the prevailing conditions, particular attention being directed to the limitation of N fixation by low soil temperature.