What is the Core Problem of the White Clover Research?

The dairy sector is facing environmental challenges related to water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of biodiversity. Forage legumes, such as white clover, with their ability for symbiotic N2 fixation, can play an increasingly important role in grassland forage production on conventional, nature inclusive, regenerative and organic dairy farms. However, poor persistence of white clover is an issue as it can lead to the need for costly reseeding, loss of soil organic matter, increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and loss of soil biodiversity. This study investigated the relationship between taproot characteristics of white clover and the persistence of the taproot in 18 white clover varieties, and related this to the population dynamics of white clover in the period during which the taproot disappears.

What are the Key Findings of the White Clover Research?

The study found that a higher taproot volume can increase the lifespan of the seminal taproot, and the timing of death of the seminal taproot has an effect on the short term population dynamics and performance of white clover varieties. The combination of the timing of death of the seminal tap root and the development of stolons seems to play a more important role in increasing the persistence of white clover than the absolute survival of the seminal taproot. Future research should focus on understanding the transition from a taprooted white clover to a stolonous white clover plant in relation to specific weather events such as winter frost conditions. Overall, this study provides important insights into the persistence of white clover, which can help improve the sustainability of the dairy sector.

How Has the Mobile App Petiole Helped in White Clover Research?

Researchers used the mobile app Petiole to measure the leaf size of clover plants in monoculture plots. They collected 10 leaf samples from each plot in August 2018 and stored them in air-tight bags at 7°C. The top fully developed leaf of 10 randomly selected plants was collected from each plot. The samples were then scanned with the Petiole leaf size application, which measures leaf size with an accuracy of 0.1 cm2. Based on the measured leaf sizes, the researchers defined four leaf size groups. In particular, they identified small (<1.40 cm2), medium (1.40–1.55 cm2), large (1.55–1.70 cm2), and very large (>1.70 cm2). In summary, Petiole was used to measure and classify the size of clover leaves in the study.

What is the Citation of the Research?

Janssen, P. W. L., Hoekstra, N. J., van der Schoot, J. R., & van Eekeren, N. (2023). White clover (Trifolium repens) population dynamics are partly dependent on timing of seminal taproot death. Grass and Forage Science, 78( 1), 173–183. doi.org/10.1111