KARIN N. SCHILLER and J.F. AYRES

Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

As part of an investigation into the adaptation of Lotus pedunculatus to the northern tablelands of New South Wales, a study was made of the effects of onset of winter conditions on the nutritive value of cv. Grasslands Maku lotus compared with Trifolium repens cv. Haifa (white clover). White clover maintained relatively constant levels of forage nitrogen, in vitro organic matter digestibility and structural fibre constituents from late May through July. By contrast, the levels of nitrogen and digestibility of lotus were depressed (42 to 32 g/kg N, 78 to 63% OMD),and these effects were associated with morphological changes induced by severe frosting. These effects on nutritive value limit the potential role of lotus on the northern tablelands of New South Wales.