Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2008
Volume 11
Issue 4
Topic:
Agronomy
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Wilczek M. , Ćwintal M. 2008. EFFECT OF THE METHODS OF ADDITIONAL FEEDING WITH MICROELEMENTS (B, Mο) ON THE YIELD STRUCTURE AND SEED YIELD OF RED CLOVER, EJPAU 11(4), #05.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume11/issue4/art-05.html

EFFECT OF THE METHODS OF ADDITIONAL FEEDING WITH MICROELEMENTS (B, Mο) ON THE YIELD STRUCTURE AND SEED YIELD OF RED CLOVER

Mieczysław Wilczek, Marek Ćwintal
Department of Detailed Plant Cultivation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland

 

ABSTRACT

In years 2002-2005, a strict field experiment with Parada red clover cultivar grown for seeds was carried out as a randomized complete block design in four replications. In the experiment, the following factors were taken into account: additional feeding with microelements (0, B, Mo, B + Mo) and methods of microelement application (1 – soil-applied prior to seed sowing, 2 – soil-applied prior to the onset of plant vegetation in the second year of cultivation, 3 – foliar on 2nd – cut plants during budding). The highest seed yield was obtained in plants fed additionally with joint boron and molybdenum, which significantly exceeded plant productivity in the control. From the studied methods of microelement application, the highest seed yield was found in plants with additional foliar feeding during budding from the 2nd cut in the year of full utilisation.

Key words: red clover, microelements, seed yield.

INTRODUCTION

Additional feeding with microelements of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cultivated for seeds is a problem not fully solved. In the experiments carried out in the last 10 years, foliar or soil-applied additional feeding is presented [8,14]. However, no comparison of the two ways of microelement application has been found.

Seeds of red clover are collected in the second year of utilisation, from the second cut. Therefore, soil-applied additional feeding may take place in the first year of cultivation prior to sowing or in the second one right before the onset of plant vegetation, together with fertilisation with phosphorus and potassium [10]. However, foliar additional feeding is most frequently applied in the second year of utilisation of a second-cut plant [14]. Comparative information on the effects of red clover soil-applied and foliar additional feeding may have scientific as well as practical significance.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of three methods of additional feeding with boron and molybdenum on the elements of yield structure and diploid red clover seed yield. In cultivation of red clover for seeds, yield of green or dry matter of stubble crop is additionally obtained and from the first cut, in the second year of utilisation. This efficiency is also presented in the work. It was assumed that the introduction of boron and molybdenum using different methods would cause a significant increase in red clover seed yield cultivated on soil deprived of these elements. The aim was also to determine the most effective method of microelement application.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To accomplish the established goal, a strict field experiment with red clover was carried out in two years' series (2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005), as a randomized complete block design in four replications. The experiment was carried out on the plots of 24 m2 each, in Spiczyn Colony near Lublin on lessive soil generated from loess (good wheat complex – class IIIa). The soil was characterised by the humus content of 1.26–1.42% and pHKCl 6.3–6.5. In 1 kg, it contained 54.5–59.1 mg of P; 134.5–164.4 mg of K; 52–60 mg of Mg, as well as 1.0–1.2 mg of B and 0.01–0.02 mg of Mo.

The following factors were taken into account in the experiment: additional feeding with microelements (0, B, Mo, B + Mo) and methods of microelement application (1 soil-applied prior to sowing, 2 – soil-applied prior to the onset of plant vegetation in the second year of cultivation, 3 – foliar on 2nd-cut plants during budding). In soil-applied additional feeding, boron dose was 2.5 kg and molybdenum dose was 0.5 kg·ha-1. In foliar additional feeding, the doses were 10 times lower (B – 0.250 kg·ha-1 and Mo – 0.05 kg·ha-1). Boron was used in the form of borvit and molybdenum in the form of molybdenite in 300 dm3·ha-1 of water, soil-applied and foliar as spray. The basic dose of phosphorus and potassium fertilisers per year was 35 kg of P and 100 kg of K·ha-1. Cover crop was spring barley ('Rataj'), sowed in the amount of 90 kg·ha-1, used for grain. Additionally, 50 kg of N·ha-1 was used underneath. Clover seeds of Parada cultivar were sowed in the amount of 6 kg·ha-1, in the third decade of April, in barley, 20 cm row spacing. In the sowing years, barley was harvested in the first decade of August, and stubble crop from September 27th to October 2nd. In the years of full utilisation, the first cut was harvested for green fodder, on the turn of May, and the second one for seeds. In the second regrowth, the following elements of red clover seed yield structure were determined in each plot: the number of generative shoots and heads per 1 m2, the number of pods and seeds per head, and the percentage of their setting, weight of 1000 seeds. Plants were harvested at about 90% of head maturity by combine. Potential yield was calculated on the basis of yield structure elements. The weather data comes from the Agrometeorological Station in Felin. The obtained results were processed statistically using analysis of variance and Tukey's test at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

Perennial legumes are characterized by irregular growth and development, which causes difficulties in precise determination of successive developmental phases. To interpret the effect of the weather on red clover yielding in a better way, its vegetation was divided into three subperiods (Table 1). Seed cut vegetation oscillated between 101 (2003) and 129 days (2005). Higher air temperature and smaller precipitation shortened red clover seed vegetation and vice versa, lower air temperature an higher precipitation prolonged that period. First-cut clover was mowed the earliest in 2005 (23 May), and the latest in 2004 (30 May). Subperiod from 1st-cut mowing to 2nd regrowth flowering was from 42 to 47 days. Flowering lasted from 30 days in 2003 to 39 – in 2005. Prolongation of this period in 2005 was caused by high precipitation, which exceeded 168 mm. Clover flowered most evenly in 2003, when mean air temperature was high (20.8°C) and precipitation moderate (69.1 mm). The most diverse vegetation subperiod was plant maturation. This period equalled from 29 (2003) to 45 days (2005). The highest precipitation was noted in 2005 (128 mm). In year 2004, the meteorological elements that prolonged clover maturation were relatively low air temperature (15.3°C) and higher than the long-term average precipitation (99.4 mm). Meteorological conditions diversified to the highest degree yield structure elements and seed yield (Tables 2 and 3). In years 2003-2005, the weather significantly influenced the number of heads and seeds per head, the percentage of seed setting in relation to pods, harvested yield, potential (calculated) yield and harvested to potential yield ratio. The highest values of yield structure elements and seed yield were noted in 2003. The worst results were in 2005. High and frequent precipitation during flowering, which made visiting difficult for pollinating insects and caused the lowest setting of seeds in the head, contributed to this.

Table 1. Characteristics of meteorological conditions of the three subperiods of red clover vegetation

Specification

Year

Subperiods of red clover vegetation

Sum or mean

I

II

III

Subperiod duration, days

2003

30.05-10.07
(42)

11.07-10.08
(30)

11.08-08.09
(29)

101

2004

01.06-17.07
(47)

18.07-21.08
(35)

22.08-26.09
(37)

119

2005

24.05-07.07
(45)

08.07-15.08
(39)

16.08-29.09
(45)

129

mean

45

35

37

Mean daily air temperature, °C

2003

17.4

20.8

18.5

18.7

2004

15.9

16.5

15.3

15.9

2005

16.1

17.8

18.1

17.3

mean

16.5

18.4

17.3

Precipitation sum in subperiod, mm

2003

66.4

69.1

90.1

225.6

2004

90.3

106.4

99.4

296.1

2005

59.2

168.5

128.0

355.7

mean

71.9

114.7

105.8

Number of days with precipitation

2003

10

8

11

29

2004

14

11

12

37

2005

8

14

17

39

mean

11

11

13

I – From 1st – cut mowing to the beginning of flowering of 2nd – cut clover
II – Flowering
III – Plant maturation

Table 2. Elements of the structure of red clover seed yield depending on the factors studied

Factor

Object

Number of

Seed setting in pods, %

generative shoots per 1 m2

heads
per 1 m2

seeds in the head

A. Years

2003

230

670

74

69.8

2004

242

602

68

59.1

2005

264

620

61

51.2

LSD0.05

ns

48.4

    5.2

 4.9

B. Microelement

fertilisation

0

234

604

61

53.2

B

242

642

71

64.4

Mo

255

630

67

56.3

B + Mo

248

648

72

66.2

LSD0.05

ns

ns

    6.1

 5.8

C. Methods of microelement application

1

252

624

64

54.1

2

243

638

67

58.1

3

240

630

73

68.0

LSD0.05

ns

ns

    5.2

4.9

Interaction

A x B

    9.4

10.6

A x C

8.2

9.3

ns – no significant differences

Fertilising with boron and molybdenum caused significant variability in the number of seeds in the head and the percentage of seed setting (Table 2) as well as harvested and potential yield (Table 3). The best results were obtained in the object with boron and molybdenum applied jointly, which influenced the increase in the above yield structure elements and seed yield. Additional feeding only with boron as well as boron and molybdenum caused a significant increase in seed yield in relation to the control. Even more variability in favour of the above objects was observed in potential yield. The examined methods of microelement application also significantly differentiated the number of seeds in the head, the percentage of their setting, and harvested and potential yield. By far the best results were obtained in objects with foliar additional feeding. Harvested yield was significantly lower in the case of soil-applied microelement application. Also the combination of years and fertilisation with microelements as well as of years and methods of microelement application influenced statistically grounded diversification of yield structure elements. However, no yield-forming interaction between additional feeding and methods of B and Mo application has been found.

Table 3. Weight of 1000 seeds and red clover seed yield depending on the factors studied

Factor

Object

Weight of 1000 seeds g

Yield of seeds
kg·ha-1

Harvested to potential seed yield ratio, %

harvested

potential

A. Years

2003

1.89

564

937

60.2

2004

1.80

472

737

64.0

2005

1.82

386

688

56.1

LSD0.05

ns

38

55.2

5.0

B. Microelement

fertilisation

0

1.75

440

645

68.2

B

1.88

486

857

56.7

Mo

1.82

468

768

60.9

B + Mo

1.89

502

882

56.9

LSD0.05

ns

44.2

64.6

6.4

C. Methods of microelement application

1

1.84

456

735

61.2

2

1.82

462

778

60.1

3

1.86

504

855

58.9

LSD0.05

ns

38.0

55.2

ns

Interaction

A x B

89.4

122.4

A x C

78.9

106.3

ns – no significant differences

Table 4. Additional yield of green and dry matter of red clover cultivated for seeds

Factor

Object

Yield of, t·ha-1

green matter

dry matter

Stubble crop

A. Years

2002

7.21

1.25

2003

9.04

1.51

2004

10.65

1.72

LSD0.05

1.12

0.13

B. Microelement

fertilisation

0

8.26

1.38

B

8.50

1.42

Mo

9.37

1.56

B + Mo

9.76

1.62

LSD0.05

1.19

0.18

First cut

A. Years

2003

34.50

5.24

2004

36.40

5.42

2005

39.36

5.78

LSD0.05

3.52

0.51

B. Microelement

fertilisation

0

32.71

4.88

B

36.00

5.36

Mo

38.91

5.80

B + Mo

39.38

5.87

LSD0.05

3.84

0.59

C. Methods of microelement application

1

36.09

5.38

2

37.42

5.59

LSD0.05

ns

ns

ns – no significant differences

When cultivating red clover for seeds, barley seed yield and mass of stubble crop in the first year of cultivation and clover green fodder from the first cut in the second year of cultivation are additionally obtained. Barley seed yield oscillated between 3.42 and 3.65 t·ha-1 in the studied 3-year period. Yield of green and dry matter of stubble crop was significantly diversified by the weather in the particular years as well as by soil-applied additional feeding with microelements. Stubble crop yield mainly depended on precipitation distribution in August and September. In 2002 with the precipitation of 37.2 mm they were the lowest – 1.25 t·ha-1 of dry matter, whereas in 2004 with the precipitation of 86.2 mm, the highest – 1.72 t·ha-1 (Table 4). Comparing additional feeding with microelements, the best results were noted when boron and molybdenum were applied jointly and when molybdenum was applied alone. In the present experiment, high yield was noted of green and dry matter from the first cut. They were significantly diversified by the weather and fertilisation with microelements. The highest were obtained in 2005 and in the combination of joint application of boron and molybdenum. The doses of boron and molybdenum and molybdenum alone caused a significant increase in yield compared to the control. Soil-applied microelement application before clover sowing and in the second year before the onset of plant vegetation did not influence considerably the yield of green and dry matter of 1st-cut clover.

DISCUSSION

In the present study the most suitable distribution of meteorological factors was noted in 2003, whose effect was the highest seed yield and a limitation of plant vegetation to 101 days. A similar evaluation can be seen in the works of Górski and Bawolski [2] and Wilczek [11]. From the point of view of seed production, the most important is weather course during flowering and plant maturation [12]. Both air temperature and precipitation during red clover flowering in 2003 were fully conducive to proper flower pollination, which caused the fact that in such conditions the effectiveness of their pollination by insects (honeybees, bumblebees) raised, which, in turn, resulted in a higher percentage of seeds set in the head and their yield [3,6,13]. In 2005, very high precipitation during plant flowering contributed to a significant decrease in seed setting in the head and the decrease of yield harvested in relation to potential. This statement is confirmed in literature [11]. From the applied microelements, the best results were noted in the object with the joint application of boron and molybdenum and of boron alone. This is because boron increases pollen vitality and the intensity of pollen tube growth. It also contributes to good seed development [9]. Molybdenum, on the other hand, influenced root system growth and shoot development, which is mainly connected with nitrogen metabolism. Lack of molybdenum causes a decrease in pollen production and its low vitality [9]. In this aspect, additional feeding with boron and molybdenum of red clover cultivated for seeds is well founded. In the present experiment, the applied higher doses of Mo demonstrated to be more effective than the lower ones tested earlier [14].

From the investigated methods of microelement application, the most effective was foliar additional feeding. Soil-applied additional feeding in the first and second cultivation year of clover growing on soil deprived of boron and molybdenum in the doses of 2.5 kg of B and 0.5 kg of Mo·ha-1 was less effective than foliar (0.250 kg of B and 0.050 kg of Mo·ha-1). The views of Ma [4] and Starzycki [10] on the usefulness of additional feeding with B and Mo of seed red clover localised on soil deprived of these elements were confirmed. In objects with additional feeding with microelements and methods of their application it was stated that with the increase in potential seed yield, the participation of harvested yield decreased. Similar results are confirmed by earlier research by Wilczek [11] and Perepravo and Khudokormov [5]. Significant differences between potential and harvested yield, although smaller than in the above works, speak for improving the method of seed red clover harvesting Bruździak and Gospodarczyk [1], Smith [7], as well as Wilczek and Ćwintal [12] are of similar opinion. Harvested red clover seed yield is considered high in 2003, in 2004 – satisfactory, and in 2005 – average in the light of literature [1,4,10,14].

CONCLUSIONS

  1. Red clover seed yield in the consecutive years of the experiment oscillated between 386 and 564 kg·ha-1 and was mainly shaped by the weather during flowering and plant maturation, which significantly diversified the basic elements of yield structure (the number of heads per 1 m2, the number of seeds per head and the percentage of their setting).

  2. The highest seed yield was obtained when the plants were fed additionally with joint boron and molybdenum in a foliar way during budding of 2nd-cut plants.

  3. Additional feeding with microelements and the methods of their application diversified significantly the number of seeds in the head and the percentage of seed setting in pods.

  4. Yield of green and dry matter from stubble crop in the first year of utilisation and from first cut in the second year was relatively high and significantly diversified by weather conditions and microelements. The highest were noted in the case of joint application of boron and molybdenum and of molybdenum alone.


  5. REFERENCES

    1. Bruździak M., Gospodarczyk F., 1991. Plonowanie koniczyny czerwonej uprawianej na nasiona w trzech rejonach Dolnego Śląska [Yield of red clover cultivated for seeds in three regions of Lower Silesia]. Zesz. Nauk. AR we Wrocławiu, Rolnictwo 207, 113-119 [in Polish].

    2. Górski T., Bawolski S., 1989. Agroklimatyczne podstawy rejonizacji upraw koniczyny czerwonej na nasiona [Agro-climatic bases of cultivation regionalisation of red clover cultivated for seeds]. Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk Rol. 224, 285-289 [in Polish].

    3. Jabłoński B., 1974. Biologia kwitnienia i zapylania koniczyny czerwonej (Trifolium pratense L.) [Biology of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) flowering and pollination]. Pszczel. Zesz. Nauk. XVII(18), 201-228 [in Polish].

    4. Ma W.Q., 1993. Study on boron nutrition of red clover. J. Hebei Agric. Univ. 16(4), 30-33.

    5. Perepravo N.I., Khudokormov V.V., 1994. Sowing rates for red clover grown for seeds. Zemledelje 5, 39-40.

    6. Prabucki J., 1998. Pszczelnictwo [Apiculture]. Wyd. Albatros Szczecin [in Polish].

    7. Smith R.S., 1994. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Technical report, Department of primary industries, South Australia, 219, 97-106.

    8. Stanisławska-Glubiak E., 1989. Potrzeby nawożenia molibdenem koniczyny czerwonej uprawianej na glebach górskich [Needs of molybdenum fertilisation of red clover cultivated on mountain soils]. IUNG Puławy R(260), 1-51 [in Polish].

    9. Starck Z., 2002. Gospodarka mineralna roślin. Fizjologia roślin [Plant mineral economy. Plant physiology]. Red. J. Kopcewicz i S. Lewak. PWN Warszawa, 228-245 [in Polish].

    10. Starzycki S., 1981. Koniczyny [Clovers]. PWRiL Warszawa [in Polish].

    11. Wilczek M., 1984. Agroekologiczne aspekty rejonizacji plantacji nasiennych koniczyny czerwonej (Trifolium pratense L.) na terenie Lubelszczyzny. Cz. I. Rejony produkcji a struktura plonów nasion. Cz. II. Plony nasion [Agroecological aspects of regionalisation of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed plantations in the Lublin region. Part I. Production regions versus seed yield structure. Part II. Seed yields]. Biul. IHAR 154, 93-109 [in Polish].

    12. Wilczek M., Ćwintal M., 1995. Wpływ niektórych czynników agrotechnicznych na plony nasion tetraploidalnej koniczyny czerwonej [Effect of some agronomic factors on tetraploid red clover seed yields]. Mat. Konf. Nauk. Nauki rolnicze w warunkach integracji europejskiej, ART Olsztyn, Produkcja roślinna II/IV, 136-139 [in Polish].

    13. Wilczek M., Ćwintal M., 2004. Wpływ terminów i dawek dolistnego dokarmiania mikroelementami (B, Mo) na plony nasion koniczyny czerwonej (łąkowej) [Effect of time and doses of foliar additional feeding with microelements (B, Mo) on red clover seed yield]. Cz. II.  Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk Rol. 502, 689-695 [in Polish].

    14. Wilczek M., Ćwintal M., 2003. Wpływ warunków pogodowych i glebowych na długość kwitnienia nasiennej koniczyny czerwonej [Effect of weather and soil conditions on the duration of seed red clover flowering]. Ann. Univ. Mariae Curie-Skłodowska, Sect. EEE, Horticultura XIII, 263-269 [in Polish].

     

    Accepted for print: 1.10.2008


    Mieczysław Wilczek
    Department of Detailed Plant Cultivation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
    Akademicka 15,20-950 Lublin, Poland
    email: mieczyslaw.wilczek@ar.lublin.pl

    Marek Ćwintal
    Department of Detailed Plant Cultivation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
    Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
    email: marek.cwintal@ar.lublin.pl

    Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.