EXPERIENCES WITH CANADIAN ALTASWEDE AND SWEDISH COMMERCIAL RED CLOVER IN FINLAND Otto Valle Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Plant Husbandry, Tikkurila, Finland Received October 31, 1958. For several years the cultivation of red clover in Finland has been dependent to a great extent on imported seed. Prior to 1950 Sweden was the primary source of this seed. More recently there have been several years when seed of the Swedish single-cut, later flowering type was not available in sufficient quantities to supply the need for it in Finland. When this situation occurred Canadian Altaswede was used, a single-cut variety earlier in flowering habit than Finnish red clover. The first Altaswede seed a shipment of 200 tons was imported by Fin- land in 1948. During the six-year period 1953—1958 an average of 226 tons of Altaswede seed was brought into the country annually. This represented 80 percent of the total red clover seed imported by Finland during the period. Of the balance, 13 percent was Swedish commercial and 7 percent was from the U.S.S.R. During the years 1953, 1957 and 1958 Sweden was not able to export any single-cut red clover seed to Finland (1). The first trials comparing Altaswede and Finnish Tammisto red clover, the first Finnish bred variety, were arranged in Finland in 1948. The trials were at seven different experimental stations from Southern Finland to the Artie Circle. The results of the trials planted in 1948—1950 were published in 1953 (2) and are summarized in Table 1. In first year leys the Altaswede was 8 percent lower in yield than the Finnish Tammisto red clover; in second year ley it was 21 percent lower. These results are collected in Table 1. Significance is estimated by the difference method using Fisher’s f-table: *signif. 95%; **signif. 99%; *** signif. 99.9 % 294 Table 1. Results from red clover variety trials (Tammisto, Altaswede) in Finland. Planting years 1948—50. Winter survival Dry matter yield 6ar 10—0 Tammisto kg/hectare -- 100 of Variety . .. Ist 2nd Ist 2ndplanting winter winter year year Average Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Plant Husbandry, Tikkurila, latit. 60°18' 1948 Tammisto 9.4 6.5 6 950 8 020 7 490 100 100 100 Altaswede 7.9 2.5 90 67 78 — »— Tammisto 9.2 7.0 6 780 8 700 7 740 100 100 100 Altaswede 8.4 3.8 100 76 86 1949 Tammisto 9.5 9.8 5 810 7 040 6 430 100 100 100 Altaswede 9.2 9.4 102 79 89 1950 Tammisto 6.4 7.9 3 940 3 160 3 550 100 100 100 Altaswede 6.8 7.0 109 88 97 Tammisto Plant Breeding Station, Helsingin pit., latit. 60°17' 1948 Tammisto 9.5 9.9 7 060 6 870 6 970 100 100 100 Altaswede 9,0 9.7 93 91 92 1950 Tammisto 9.9 9.8 2 940 7 910 5 430 100 100 100 Altaswede 9.6 9.2 99 96 98 Agricultural Research Centre. Department of Plant Breeding, Jokioinen, latit. 60°49 / 1948 Tammisto 7.6 9.7 7 900 5 100 6 500 100 100 100 Altaswede 7.1 9.3 91 70 83 1949 Tammisto 9.8 9.8 5 560 3 610 4 590 100 100 100 Altaswede 10.0 9.8 97 70 86 South Ostrobothnia Agricultural Experiment Station, Ylistaro, latit. 62°57/ 1948 Tammisto 6.0 5.5 8 550 5 250 6 900 100 100 100 Altaswede 3.0 2.2 62 61 62 Pasture Experiment Station, Mouhijärvi, latit. öl'^Sl* 1948 Tammisto 8.4 8.8 6 720 5 610 6 170 100 100 100 Altaswede 7.0 6.6 83 59 72 North Ostrobothnia Agricultural Experiment Station, Ruukki, latit. 64°41' 1950 Tammisto 6.3 7 010 100 Altaswede 6.3 95 Winter survival Dry matter yield ear 10—0 Tammisto kg/hectare = 100 of Variety , .. Ist 2nd Ist 2ndplanting winter winter year year Average Polar Circle Agricultural Experiment Station, Apukka, latit. 660 35 , 1948 Tammisto 9.0 8.0 3 440 4 000 3 720 100 100 100 Altaswede 8.0 6.5 93 76 84 1949 Tammisto 9.3 9.3 7 290 1 990 4 640 100 100 100 Altaswede 7.3 6,7 88 118 94 Average 1948—50 Tammisto 8 5 8 5 6150 5 610 5 840 100 100 100 Altaswede 7.7 69 92 79 85 Significance in dry matter yield ist year Tammisto—Altaswede 580 ±252* kg/ha 2nd year Tammisto —Altaswede 1120 ±333** kg/ha Table 2. Results from red clover variety trials (Tammisto, Altaswede, Swedish commercial) in Finland. Planting years 1952—56. Winter survival Cutting dates Dry matter yield ear Variety or —0 Tammisto kg/hectare = 100 . .. origin Ist 2nd Ist 2nd Ist 2ndplanting Averagewinter winter year year year year Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Plant Husbandry, Tikkurila, latit, 60°18' 1952 Tammisto 2.8 7.4 1/7, 7/8 10/7, 7/9 4 010 4 510 4 260 Altaswede 1.8 5.0 74 56 65 Swedish commercial 1.8 6.0 83 78 81 1953 Tammisto 8.2 7/7, 26/8 20/7, 14/9 6 030 6 030 Altaswede 3.6 63 63 Swedish commercial 6.3 82 82 1954 Tammisto 9.7 8.9 18/7, 9/9 4/7, 28/8 7 680 7 170 7 430 Altaswede 9.7 7.8 96 82 89 Swedish commercial 9.7 8.3 83 88 86 1955 Tammisto 4.3 9/7, 24/8 4 460 4 460 Altaswede 4,6 91 91 Swedish commercial 1.6 87 87 1956 Tammisto 9.5 2/8, 17/9 9 920 9 920 Altaswede 7.5 77 77 Swedish commercial 9.0 77 77 Tammisto Plant Breeding Station, Helsingin pit., latit. 60o l7' 1953 Tammisto 7.8 8.7 7/7, 19/8 19/7 5 800 4 480 5 140 Altaswede 5.9 4.3 85 46 66 Swedish commercial 5.5 6.0 83 54 69 295 Winter survival Cutting dates Dry matter yield ' ear Variety or — 0 Tammisto kg/hectare = 100 , .. origin Ist 2nd Ist 2nd Ist 2ndplanting & . . Averagewinter winter year year year year 1955 Tammisto 6.0 16/7, 30/8 2 520 2 520 Altaswede 3.0 57 57 Swedish commercial 5.9 115 115 A gricullural Research Centre, Department of Plant Breeding, Jokioinen, latit. 60°49/ 1953 Tammisto 4.3 6.2 16/7,21/9 14/7 6 830 1 980 4 410 Altaswede 2.3 1.6 77 32 55 Swedish commercial 3.3 2.4 78 45 62 1955 Tammisto 9.0 7.2 6/7, 24/8 8/7, 10/9 4 720 9 410 7 060 Altaswede 8.5 5.8 90 86 88 Swedish commercial 8.4 5.4 110 73 92 1956 Tammisto 7.3 9/7, 9/9 11 400 11 400 Altaswede 7.0 85 85 Swedish commercial 7.4 98 98 Fiskars Farm, Pohja, latit. OO'^OO' 1954 Tammisto 8.5 9.1 13/7 10/7,28/8 5 620 6 320 5 970 Altaswede 7.5 8.1 90 94 92 Swedish commercial 8.0 8.8 88 93 91 1955 Tammisto 5.5 4.4 12/7, 29/8 8/7, 4/9 3 630 3 960 3 800 Altaswede 5.5 1.8 105 88 97 Swedish commercial 6.2 3.7 111 92 102 - » Tammisto 6.0 10/7, 28/8 6 230 6 230 Altaswede 4,8 84 84 Swedish commercial 6.0 103 103 Carelia Agricultural Experiment Station, Anjala, latit. 60°42’ 1955 Tammisto 4.6 13/7, 20/9 6 460 6 460 Altaswede 1.7 69 69 Swedish commercial 2.5 93 93 Flame Agricultural Experiment Station, Pälkäne, latit. 61°20' 1956 Tammisto 8.8 4/7, 4/9 9 820 9 820 Altaswede 9.4 94 94 Swedish commercial 7.9 67 67 South Ostrobothnia Agricultural Experiment Station, Ylistaro, latit. 620 57 , 1953 Tammisto 7.1 4.6 5/8 9/8 8 000 6 560 7 280 Altaswede 3.6 2.3 78 82 80 Swedish commercial 6.2 2.7 104 94 99 1956 Tammisto 9.3 6/8 11 250 11 250 Altaswede 8.0 86 86 Swedish commercial 8.6 97 97 North Savo Agricultural Experiment Station, Maaninka, latit. 63o o9' 1954 Tammisto 4.4 2.8 29/7 16/7 5 820 6 860 6 340 Altaswede 1.4 0.6 86 70 78 Swedish commercial 3.9 1.5 101 85 93 1955 Tammisto 4.6 8.8 12/7 29/7 5 280 8 010 6 640 Altaswede 2.4 6.4 87 81 84 Swedish commercial 4.3 8.1 87 88 88 1956 Tammisto 7.8 30/7 7 470 7 470 Altaswede 5.5 81 81 Swedish commercial 4.5 62 62 296 Winter survival Cutting dates Dry matter yield Year Variety or 10—0 Tammisto kg/hectare = 100 . .. origin Ist 2nd Ist 2nd Ist 2ndplanting 6 Averagewinter winter year year year year ° North Ostrobothnia Agricultural Experiment Station, Ruukki, latit. 1954 Tammisto 4.4 30/7 4 020 4 020 Altaswede 3.0 74 74 Swedish commercial 3.2 71 71 Polar Circle Agricultural Experiment Station, Apukka, latit. 66°35’ 1954 Tammisto 6.0 2/8 21/7 2 600 2 570 2 580 Altaswede 5.8 82 66 74 Swedish commercial 4,8 82 74 78 1955 Tammisto 7.7 31/7 30/7 6640 5 110 5 870 Altaswede 6.2 93 66 80 Swedish commercial 7.0 104 87 96 Average 1962 Tammisto 6 3 7 0 6 380 5 610 6 370 1956 Altaswede 5 0 45 84 70 79 Swedish commercial 5 6 5.5 90 79 86 Significance in dry matter yield ist year Tammisto—Altaswede 1000±l33*** kg/ha Tammisto—Sw.comm. 700 ±22o** » 2nd year Tammisto—Altaswede 1450±l76*** kg/ha Tammisto—Sw.comm, 1010 ±l77*** » In 1953, after a lapse of five years, Altaswede seed was imported again, at which time new trials were started in Finland. Since then trials have been planted each year. These have been at 10 experimental sites, the northernmost at the Polar Circle Agricultural Experiment Station (latitude 66° 35'). The most extensive tests have been located at the Agricultural Research Centre, Department of Plant Hus- bandry, Tikkurila in Southern Finland. Tests established at the different experi- mental sites during each of the past five years included Finnish Tammisto red clover as the standard, Altaswede and imported Swedish commercial red clover, represent- ing the single-cut late flowering type. The plot size has been 10 square meters and usually included 5 replications. A greater part of the trials were planted with a companion crop. The tests in Southern Finland were cut twice during the growing season; the main crop during the early flowering stage, and the regrowth at the end of August or in September. The tests in Middle and Northern Finland were harvested once each season usually during the last part of July or early August. At most locations the clover was harvested for two seasons. Winter survival for the different clovers was estimated at the beginning of each growing season. A scale of 10—0 was used with 10 representing no injury and 0 complete killing. In addition to the dry matter yields the amount of crude protein in the forage was determined for some of the trials. The results from 22 trials con- ducted during 1952—1956 are given in Table 2. 297 298 In the trials during the 1952—1956 period winter survival in the first and second year leys averaged 6.3 and 7.0 for Tammisto, 5.0 and 4.5 for Altaswede, and 5.6 and 5.5 for Swedish commercial, respectively. The difference in winter survival in these trials between Altaswede and Tammisto was much greater than in earlier trials because of the several severe winters for red clover in the 1950'5. This can be noted by comparing the results given in Tables 1 and 2. Thus the results on winter survival from all trials show conclusively that the injury to Altaswede has been extremely heavy during the second winter. Winter survival of the Swedish commercial red clover has been surprisingly poor. Data show it to be more comparable to Altaswede than to Tammisto in winter survival although the extent of the differences varied between trials. Differences in forage yields have been significant among the three sources of red clover seed tested. The dry matter yield of Tammisto red clover averaged, in first year leys, 6.380 kilos per hectare (5620 Ibs/acre) and in second year leys 5.610 kilos per hectare (4940 Ibs/acre). In comparing the dry matter yield of first year leys, Altaswede and Swedish commercial were 16 % and 10 % lower, respecti- vely than Tammisto. In second year leys the difference in yields was even more pronounced for Altaswede yielded 30 percent less and Swedish commercial 21 percent less. When the total yields for the first and second year leys are taken into account the yield of Altaswede was 21 percent lower and Swedish commercial 16 percent lower than the Finnish bred Tammisto variety. Red clover is the most important legume plant in Finland, and it cannot be replaced satisfactorily by other species such as alfalfa. Thus in years following a short red clover seed crop in Finland it has been necessary to import red clover seed for forage production. The results from the Finnish red clover trials indicate that the Canadian Alta- swede and Swedish commercial red clover are not equal in winter survival and in forage yield to the Finnish Tammisto red clover. For this reason seed production of the single-cut Finnish Tammisto red clover has been started abroad. Tammisto was ready for the market in 1937, but red clover seed production has been erratic in Finland due to the humid and rainy weather especially during harvest. The experiences in producing seed of Tammisto red clover have been most satisfactory on the North American Continent both in Canada and the United States. It is the plan to replace in the very near future the Canadian Altaswede and the Swedish commercial with North American-grown red clover seed of the Finnish bred Tammisto variety, to insure protein production in Finland (3). REFERENCES (1) Valle, O. 1957. The problem of red clover seed production in Finland. Maatal. tiet. aikak. 29: 177—184. Helsinki, (2) —» — 1953. Kokemuksia kanadalaisesta Altaswede-puna-apilasta. (Finnish). Koetoim. ja käyt. 4: 1. Helsinki. (3) —»— 1958. North America produces red clover seed for Finland. Foreign Agriculture (U.S.) Voi. XXI, 12: 13-14. SELOSTUS: SUOMESSA SAATUJA KOKEMUKSIA KANADAN ALTASWEDESTÄ JA RUOTSALAISESTA PUNA-APILASTA Otto Valle Maatalouden tutkimuskeskuksen Kasvinviljelylaitos, Tikkurila Tähän kirjoitukseen on koottu tuloksia Suomessa suoritetuista puna-apilan kantakokeista, joissa Tammiston puna-apilaa on verrattu kanadalaiseen Altaswedeen ja ruotsalaiseen kauppasiemeneen. Vuosina 1948—50 perustetuissa kokeissa antoi Altaswede 1. vuoden nurmessa 8 % ja 2. vuoden nurmessa 21 % heikomman kuiva-ainesadon kuin Tammisto (taul. 1). Vuosina 1952—56 kylvetyissä kokeissa oli taas 1. vuoden nurmessa Altaswede 16 % ja ruotsalainen puna-apila 10 % Tammistoa heikkosatoisempi vastaavien satoerojen ollessa 2. vuoden nurmessa Tammiston hyväksi 30 % ja 21 % (taul. 2). Tähänastinen kanadalainen tai ruotsalainen tuontisiemen olisi mahdollisimman pian korvat- tava Tammiston puna-apilalla, jonka siementä ei Suomessa ole saatu lisätyksi, mutta jonka siemen- viljelykokeilut ovat ulkomailla käynnissä. 299 MAATALOUSTIETEELLINEN AI KAKAUSKI RJ A TOIMITUSKUNTA Erkki Kivinen, Antti Mäki, Vilho A. Pesola, Ilmari Poijärvi, Onni Pohjakallio E. A. Jamalainen Toimitussihteeri Tikkurila. Puh. 831 419 ja 831 318 MAATALOUSTIETEELLISTÄ AIKAKAUSKIRJAA ilmestyy 4 vihkoa vuodessa Käsikirjoitukset lähetetään toimitussihteerille (os. Tikkurila) tai jollekin toimitusvallokunnan jäsenelle SUOMEN MAATALOUSTIETEELLINEN SEURA Puheenjohtaja: Professori Juhani Paatela Kulosaareni. 21, Helsinki Sihteeri: Professori V. Vainikainen Kasarmik. 38 A 8, Helsinki Varapuheenjohtaja: Maat. ja metsät, foht. Paavo Kajanoja Ratak. 1 a B. Helsinki Kirjastonhoitaja: Rahastonhoitaja: Tohtori Orvo Ring Tikkurila Maisteri Majlis Tulander, Hallituskatu 3, Helsinki