INSECTS WEEDS SEEDS ADVICE SEARCH CART ACCOUNT SOCIAL Free shipping on orders over $35. See Details HOME ADVICE WHITE CLOVER IS A WINNER Advice SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST TOPICS Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email More White Clover is a Winner November 8 2021 Economic considerations have greatly increased interest in forage legumes in recent years. The most widely planted forage legume in the United States and in the southern region is white clover. It is our most widely adapted pasture legume, a true perennial, and quite tolerant of grazing. It is best adapted to heavy soils or to lot-lying wet-natured areas, but can be grown on a wide range of soil types as long as the soil pH is at least 5.5, the soil is relatively fertile, and a reasonable amount of soil moisture is present during the growing season. White clover is normally grown as a companion species to a perennial grass, particularly tall fescue, orchardgrass, or dallisgrass. It is sometimes grown with bermudagrass or bahiagrass, but these grasses are quite competitive and usually quickly crowd out white clover unless they are kept grazed closely and little or no nitrogen is applied to be warm season grass. “Ladino” types are the highest yielding white clover varieties. “Intermediate” white clovers are generally not as productive yield-wise as ladino types, but are hardy, usually produce more seed, and tend to persist better than ladino types. Some recently developed intermediate white clover varieties are especially persistent. A third type is “wild white” or “small” white clover, which is is present in many pastures, but contributes little. “White Dutch” is an inexact term that is often used to refer to wild white clover and sometimes to intermediate types. White clover seed is extremely small, so the seeding rate recommendation is only three to five pounds per acre. Great care and precision must be used during planting if the seed are to be evenly distributed. As with virtually any legume, the seed should be inoculated prior to planting, but most white clover seed sold commercially is pre-inoculated. In most of the South, white clover is usually planted in autumn, but late winter plantings can also be successful in locations north of Birmingham, Alabama or similar latitudes. When planted into an existing sod in the fall, it is important to be certain there is not a high cricket population present, otherwise the seedling clover plants may be destroyed unless an insecticide is applied. Whether planted in spring or fall, success is unlikely if the clover is planted into a thick, vigorous perennial grass sod. In such a situation, the grass should be severely suppressed by either strip-spraying a herbicide or by tillage. If there is only a thin stand of grass present it may be possible to obtain a white clover stand by closely grazing the grass, and broadcasting clover seed, especially if a drag harrow or similar tool is used to scratch the soil. Seed can also be drilled, but great care should be taken to place the seed no more than one-quarter inch deep. A prepared seedbed should be firmed well with a cultipacker before planting to prevent the seed from settling too deeply into the soil. White clover is a forage crop that has been around for a long time and it has many desirable characteristics: It is a legume and does not require nitrogen fertilization, it is a perennial, it produces forage of very high quality, it is a good yielder, it is widely adapted, and it is quite tolerant of grazing. White clover is a “winner”, and needs to be widely used on livestock farms. __________________ Foraging Ahead is a column presented by Ragan & Massey and written by Dr. Don Ball, Professor Emeritus at Auburn University. Dr. Ball is one of the authors of the popular book “Southern Forages,” which can be found via a computer search that uses the words, “Southern Forages, The Fertilizer Institute” Categories: Uncategorized, Forage, Foraging Ahead, Pastures, Property Management, Seed Selection & Advice Leave a Reply Name Email Website Comment LEAVE A COMMENT Connect with us on social media Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter Pinterest Visit our online store Insects and Spiders Weeds and Brush Seeds and Food Plots Labels/SDS Sheets Find a Retailer Privacy Policy Sitemap Always use and follow label directions. 101 Ponchatoula Parkway Ponchatoula, Louisiana, 70454 Phone: (800) 264-5281 Fax: (888) 386-5565 info@raganandmassey.com © 2021 Ragan & Massey. All rights reserved.