Bangladesh J. Environ. Sci. Vol. 15, 33-36, 2008 @ BAED ISSN 1561-9206 PERFORMANCES OF WHITE CLOVER IN SUMMER AT BANGLADESH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY FARM AREA M. A. Rahman, M. T. Islam, M.A. Sattar, J. Sultana 1 and B. S. Nahar 2 Department of Environmental Science, 1 Centre for Environment Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh 2 Department of Botany, Anandamohan College, Mymensingh ABSTRACT A pot experiment was conducted at the field laboratory of the Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to asses the performances of white clover crops (Trifolium repens cv. Regal) in summer at Bangladesh Agricultural University, farm area started from April to August, 2007. NC-R genotypes of white clover were used in this experiment. This experiment was conducted in the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 20 replications. The data on total number of leaves per plant, total number of generation per plant, number of flower per plant, number of petiole per plant, length of petiole per plant, dry weight of leaves per plant were recorded at 14 days interval. Results showed that all growth characters increased gradually with increasing time after planting where temperature and rainfall showed significant impact. The maximum performance of white clover (number of flower plant -1 , number of petiole plant -1 , length of petiole plant -1 , dry weight of leaves plant -1 ) was obtained 16 th week after planting when the temperature and rainfall were also lied in 27.7 0 C and 33.6mm respectively. Thus, it appeared that the performance of white clover in summer might be recommended for medium temperature and rainfall in Bangladesh Agricultural University, farm area. Key words: White clover, performance, temperature. Introduction White clover (Trifolium repens cv. Regel) is one of the most important legume crops in many temperate regions of the world where the annual rainfall is above 750mm (Goh and Bruce, 2006). White clover originated in the Mediterranean region and was subsequently spread throughout Europe by wind, water, birds, and grazing animals. It was cultivated in the Netherlands in the 1600’s and introduced into England in the 1700’s. Early European colonists who had recognized its value as a pasture plant brought it to America (Bender et al. 2003). White clover has become a significant legume for the grazing industries of the world because of its high nutritive value, high acceptability by stock and its valuable role in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. In Australia, white clover occupies an estimated area of 6 million hectares (Bortolini and Wittmann, 2006) Nowadays white clover plays a major role only in less intensive farming, as a basic component of temporary meadows and of permanent grasslands, for farms producing suckled calves or milk and calves; in these situations, white clover offers higher herbage quality and, where frequent irrigation is possible, higher and more steady productivity, particularly in summer (Deguchi et al. 2005).It is one of the most nutritious and palatable of all legumes. Although white clover is best suited for grazing, it can be used for haulage, hay, soil improvement, and reclaiming disturbed lands. Adaptation of white clover will grow in soils considered too acid but it is more productive if the salt pH is 5.5 or higher. It also responds to irrigation about as much as any other legume. Because of its shallow root system, it is not adapted to shallow; droughty soils (Canale and Ciotti, 2002).As white clover is a great perspicacious crop among the plant kingdom so it’s adaptation in Bangladesh is an appropriate step in existing circumstances in our farming system. Very limited works have been carried out regarding white clover in south-Asian country and few study performed in Bangladesh to asses the adaptation of white clover in Bangladesh condition (Islam et al. 2007). So, the present research on “Performance of white clover in summer at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm area” is important to save our agriculture and insurance of fodder supply for our future. Objectives of the study (i) To study the morphological characters of white clover and (ii) To evaluate the performances of white clover in summer in Bangladesh environment. Materials and Methods An experiment was conducted at the Environmental Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from April to August 2007 to study the performances of white clover in summer at BAU farm area. For the experiment it was used 15 th liter volume pots with a surface diameter of approximately 30 cm used to growth and development of white clover. Data were collected mainly on 33