The response of Trifolium africanum (Ser.) var. glabellum and Trifolium repens (L.) cv. Ladino to lime and fertilizer.

Abstract

The results of a glasshouse trial show that Trifolium africanum var. glabellum has considerable potential for use in radical veld improvement. Trifolium africanum outyielded T. repens cv. Ladino in acid, P fixing soils (Farningham series). Both species produced significantly higher yields on Longlands than on Farningham soil series. The elimination of exchangeable Al from the soil, with lime, significantly increased the yield of both species. Lime significantly increased the ability of T. africanum to extract P from Farningham soil. This phenomenon was not noted for T. repens. Neither species responded to K treatments. The Ca content of T. africanum was more than twice that of T. repens when the soil was limed to eliminate exchangeable Al.

Keywords: botany; fertilizer; lime; soils; south africa; treatments; trifolium africanum; trifolium repens; veld improvement; yield