WHICH CLOVER SHOULD I PLANT?

Clovers are wonderful plants that can contribute greatly to forage/livestock programs, to soil stabilization, and to other situations in which plant vegetation is desired. Benefits clovers can provide include improved forage quality, increased forage yield, biological nitrogen fixation, extension of the growing season, soil improvement, and land beautification. However, the characteristics of clover species differ. Some are more tolerant of certain climatic conditions, soil
conditions, and/or management regimes than others. Furthermore, clovers may also differ with regard to the particular benefits they provide (for example, if forage growth is desired at a specific time, one clover may be a much better choice than another).

Consequently, when planting decisions are made it is important to have in mind the traits of various clovers and then take care to select the one(s) best suited to the situation. The autumn planting season is approaching so this should be a good time to provide general information regarding points that should be considered when deciding what clovers to plant.

Annuals Versus Perennials

Annual clovers complete their life cycles within one year (i.e. plants emerge from seed, grow, produce seed, and die, all within a 12 month period). Annual clovers reproduce only from seed and not by vegetative propagation from roots or other plant structures. Therefore, if a stand of an annual clover persists for more than one year without being replanted, it is due either to reseeding or delayed germination of previously planted seed. All annual plants present in an area at any given time will die within a 12 month period.

In the case of many annual clovers, much of the seed produced in spring or early summer will germinate in the autumn of that year, but some may lie dormant until subsequent years. Delayed germination is due to "hard seed" that have a seed coat that must be broken down over time to allow water to enter the seed. The percentage of hard seed produced varies depending mainly on the clover species and variety, but environmental conditions also have an influence.

Perennial clovers also make seed, but (assuming environmental conditions and management are appropriate) individual plants can live more than one year. Thus, a stand of a perennial clover may contain recently-established plants that are less than a year old as well as plants that are more than a year old.

In most situations in which clover is to be grown with a perennial grass, it is preferable to use a perennial clover (if adapted) rather than an annual clover. The reason is that annual clovers must come back from seed each year, so they have more difficulty becoming reestablished due to competition from grasses and other plants (especially perennial plants) than do perennial clovers that already have a good root system.

Also, the autumn forage growth of established perennial clovers is better than that of annual clovers. However, in many areas in the South, perennial clovers will not survive the heat and drought of summer, and first-year growth of a perennial clover is normally less than that of annual clovers. Thus, there are some situations in which use of an annual clover with perennial grass is preferable. This is especially true with warm season grasses being grown on droughty soils.

Geographic Adaptation/Time Of Planting

Most plantings of annual clovers (arrowleaf clover, ball clover, berseem clover, crimson clover, etc.) in the United States are made in the South, generally in September or October. Annual clovers are often grown in mixtures with annual ryegrass and/or small grain (usually rye, wheat, or oats), which provide more autumn and winter production.

The most commonly used perennial clovers in the United States are white clover and red clover. These clovers can be grown throughout much of the nation in areas in which there is a suitable soil pH, adequate fertility, and good soil moisture during most of the year. They can be established either in autumn or spring in many areas, including in about the northern half of Alabama.

White clover and red clover are most commonly grown in combination with cool season perennial grasses such as tall fescue or orchardgrass. However, in the Southeast they can sometimes be a companion to certain warm season perennial grasses on sites that offer good moisture availability during much of the growing season.

Other Points To Consider

Soil type, expected climatic conditions, and grower objectives also are important factors influencing which clover will be the correct one(s) to plant in a particular situation. The following brief descriptions of various commonly grown clovers provides much insight regarding species suitability for various situations.

PERENNIALS

White Clover-White clover, a true perennial, is the most widely-grown clover in the United States. Where adapted, individual plants often live for several years. Ladino varieties of white clover are usually most productive, but generally do not reseed well. Intermediate white clover types are better reseeders and more persistent but usually are less productive. White clover is tolerant of close grazing, which makes it a good choice for many pastures, but it is not well-suited for hay situations. Though widely adapted, it is best suited to soils that have good moisture-holding ability.

Red Clover-Red clover has excellent seedling vigor and larger seed than white clover which facilitates drilling it into existing grass pastures. In many areas red clover plants can live for 2 years (and occasionally three), but in the lower South it often acts as an annual. In areas where it is well adapted, it is the best-yielding clover species. It is often grazed, but is also well suited for use in hay situations. It is not tolerant of continuous close defoliation; rotational stocking is best. Red clover requires good soil moisture, but is not as tolerant of wet conditions as white clover.

ANNUALS

Arrowleaf Clover-Arrowleaf clover is a productive annual that makes most of its growth in late spring. It produces a high percentage of hard seed, which favors reseeding. The seed can germinate at lower temperatures than most annuals. It is usually grown in pastures, but can also be cut for hay (one cutting only). If planted with grasses, it should be grazed enough to prevent the small seedlings from being shaded by the grass. Arrowleaf clover requires well-drained soil.

Ball Clover-This winter annual is sometimes mistaken for white clover, but the blooms are smaller and more rounded. Although it can be quite productive, ball clover has a shorter growing season and often yields less forage than other commonly grown annual clovers. It is a prolific seed producer even under high stocking rates, and a high percentage of the seed are hard seed. Thus, it is an excellent reseeder. The primary period of growth is early to mid-spring. Ball clover is best suited to heavy soils, but is surprisingly well adapted to fairly dry sites as well.

Berseem Clover-Berseem clover is an annual that bears a superficial resemblance to alfalfa. If planted in autumn, most growth occurs in mid-spring. Within 100 miles of the Gulf Coast it often produces more autumn and winter forage than any other clover, but because it does not have good cold tolerance, production declines as it is planted farther north. Rotational stocking is the best way to utilize berseem clover pastures. This clover does not reseed well due to a low level of hard seed production. Unlike most commonly grown annual clovers, berseem clover is quite tolerant of wet soils and also alkaline soils.

Crimson Clover-Crimson clover is a dependable, productive annual that has larger seed and better seedling vigor than most clovers. Crimson clover makes more growth during cool weather than other clovers and is the earliest-maturing commonly grown clover species. Thus, in addition to forage production situations, it is often used as a winter cover and/or green manure crop. The showy crimson-colored blooms can provide a spectacular show in mid-spring. This clover should be planted on well-drained soils.

Rose Clover-Rose clover has a growth habit similar to crimson clover, but has lavender-colored blooms and makes most of its growth in mid-spring. It is one of the most tolerant clovers to drought and low fertility conditions. The most hardy variety has similar winter hardiness to arrowleaf clover or crimson clover, but varieties often grown in western states are much less cold tolerant. Rose clover produces many hard seed and reseeding is often good. It is best suited to well-drained soils, and is most popular in certain low rainfall areas of central Oklahoma, north central Texas, and California.

Subterranean Clover-Subterranean clover is a dense, low-growing annual best suited to areas having mild winters. It makes most of its growth in mid-spring. Subterranean clover does not yield as well as arrowleaf clover, berseem clover, or crimson clover, but can produce seed under heavy grazing pressure. However, success in obtaining reseeded stands varies depending on environmental conditions at seed maturation. Subterranean clover is more tolerant of low fertility and shade than most clovers. It is best adapted to medium and heavy textured soils with good moisture-holding capacity.

Test Plantings

A good way to determine the usefulness of various clovers in a given situation is to simply purchase some seed and make trial plantings. Small test plantings are inexpensive and can provide much insight which can help with species selection decisions in future years. The accompanying table can be helpful in determining a good place to select one or more clovers to evaluate.

However, it is important to make certain that any such test plantings give the clovers a fair chance. The soil pH and fertility needs of the clovers should be met, the seed should be inoculated with good quality inoculum of the proper type, and the seed should be planted properly at the recommended time, rate, and depth.

Varieties within a clover species can vary considerably with regard to yield, disease resistance, winterhardiness, and other factors. Thus, once a decision has been made as to which clover species to plant, selection of the most suitable variety can mean the difference between good and poor results. University variety trial reports are the best sources of unbiased variety information.

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Prepared by Dr. Don Ball, Extension Agronomist/Professor, Department of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, AL 36849