Drought resistant clover shows promise

Pastoral farmers facing more and more frequent droughts will welcome new research into drought-resistant clover cultivars. NZ's pasture-based industries depend on clover and other legume species to provide the essential nitrogen needed by the grasses eaten by grazing animals, but current species of clover do not cope well under drought conditions reports the Gisborne Herald. Lincoln University plant biology lecturer Rainer Hofmann is one of the scientists in the race to find more suitable clover species that will both survive and produce well in low rainfall areas of the country. Dr Hofmann's team from the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University compared two different clover species for their ability to maintain growth under drought conditions and found that one adapted better to short-term simulated drought conditions than the other. "We were delighted that our results showed that strawberry clover has promise as a legume to complement or be an alternative to white clover in grassed pasture," said Dr Hofmann. "With the increased frequency of summer droughts experienced in New Zealand, it is important that we work to find as many viable alternatives as possible for farmers to choose from, so that the particular cultivar chosen is one that best suits their particular environmental conditions. Results showed that strawberry clover leaf growth adjusted better than white clover under drought conditions with white clover showing reductions in all plant traits measured," said Dr Hofmann. "Future research under field conditions and under limiting water supply could investigate leaf and stolon development as well as long-term plant performance and survival to test the use of strawberry clover as a complement or alternative to white clover in grazed pastures," said Dr Hofmann. This research was presented at a New Zealand Grasslands Association conference where strawberry clover's potential as an alternative plant for drought-prone areas was recognised.