ChileanJAR

For three years the effects ofcutting height and frequency, using mowing and grazing, on the density of growing points per unit of area, leaf dimensions, the length and dry weight of rhizomes and stolons, and DM productivity were studied in three species ofgenus Lotus: L. eornieulatus (Le), L. tenuis (Lt), and L. uliginosus (Lu) grown in clay soil. The cutting height did not affect the growth variables, except in Lu where heavy grazing tended to produce a higher density ofgrowing points than light grazing. The six week cutting interval produced larger sized leaves in Lc and Lt, greater leafspecific weight in Lc and Lu and higher leafemergence rates in Lt and Lu than with an eight week cutting interval. Lotus cornieulatus displayed higher yields (about 8 t DM ha^-1 year^-1 ) and more uniform distribution of production during the growiog season than Lt and Lu, which tended to concentrate their production in the spring. Cutting height and cutting interval did not produce a consistent effect on the yield ofthe three Lotus species during the three years.