Growth and nutrition of legumes on a high country yellow‐brown earth subsoil

Lucerne, white clover, and lotus were grown with three rates of lime and three rates of phosphate on a high country yellow‐brown earth subsoil. Lime equivalent to 2000 kg.ha ‐1 depressed exchangeable aluminium (AI) and manganese levels, and increased growth of all species. The lime response was attributed to alleviation of Al toxicity. Lucerne responded most and lotus least to lime; thus tolerance of Al toxicity decreased in the order lotus > white clover > lucerne. Lime equivalent to 8000 kg.ha ‐1 further depressed exchangeable Al and Mn levels, but this rate depressed growth in all species except lucerne at the highest rate of P. The growth depression was attributed to an induced P deficiency.