Seed production of native hay clovers in the highlands of eastern

Abstract

Studies of seed production in some native clovers [Trifolium steudneri, T. quartinianum, T. rueppel-lianum and T. alexandrinum (control)] were undertaken at Shola in the Ethiopian highlands (1983) and at Kabete in the central highlands of Kenya (1990). Trifolium steudneri and T. quartin¬ianum had the highest seed yields on a Vertisol soil at Shola. Seed yields were lower on a vol¬canic Nitosol soil at Kabete than at Shola, pos¬sibly due to the shorter duration of the wet season. At Shola, P fertiliser application signifi¬cantly (P < 0.05) increased seed yields. Highest costs were incurred in hand harvesting and were 82% of total production costs. The yield and seed production costs of African clovers are related to those of other tropical legumes produced in Kenya.