The effect of waterlogging on the mineral nutrient content of Trifolium subterraneum

Abstract

Waterlogging affected the concentration and total content of nutrients in the leaves of 75 cultivars of the three subspecies of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). In the plant tops the concentration of phosphorus, iron, manganese, and copper increased, zinc was unaffected and nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium decreased. Total leaf nutrient largely reflected differences in dry matter production. Iron content increased; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and zinc decreased, but phosphorus and manganese content was unchanged. The results show a general pattern of subspecies differences in which the chemical composition of subspecies yanninicum was least affected by waterlogging, i.e., a result consistent with the overall better growth of this subspecies in waterlogged conditions.