Preliminary trials using a white clover (Trifolium repens L.) understorey to supply the nitrogen requirements of a cereal crop

A method of growing cereals with no input of N fertilizer was tested. Two experiments are reported in which white clover (Trifolium repens L.) was used to supply the nitrogen requirements of the cereal. Spring barley, spring oats and winter barley were direct drilled into an established clover crop and grown with the legume as an understorey. The yield of whole crop cereal, for ensilage, and yield of cereal grain were similar to those grown by traditional methods. In the first experiment, clover survived adequately to be used again, but in the second experiment it was killed by a very high slug population. A method of slug control by mob stocking with sheep is discussed. Where clover survived, no weed, insect or disease problems were encountered. The technique offers a possible method of reducing the environmental problems arising from the use of nitrogen fertilizers.