The effects of winter conditions on the nutritive value of Lotus pedunculatus cv. Grasslands Maku and Trifolium repens cv. Haifa

As part of an investigation into the adaptation of Lotus pendunculatus 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 to July. By contrast, the levels of nitrogen and digestibility of lotus were depressed (42to 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.