Berseem Clover

Trifolium alexandrinum
Berseem clover is an erect annual with a short taproot; it can grow up to 750 mm with slender, hollow, branched stems and plain, trifoliate, slightly hairy leaflets. Pods contain 1-2 seeds oval-shaped yellow/red-brown seeds;

Pros

highly nutritive
free of oestrogen risks
suited to seasonal irrigation
great as a green cover crop
mainly used with irrigation
likes neutral soil pH 6-8
moderately tolerant of water-logging
well suited to deep alluvial soils
some tolerance of salinity
good heat tolerance
suited to cutting for hay or silage.
quick regrowth
rotationally grazing when 15-20 cm tall; this stimulates tillering
avoid overgrazing
palatable - high feed value - high protein content
low risk of bloat
low risk of estrogen

Cons

poor regeneration; intolerant of heavy frost
low cold tolerance, least winter hardy of the cultivated clovers
should not be grown where winter temperatures drop low as 6°C. regularly

Sowing rates
Single species sowing rates - 8-10 kg/ha (10-15 kg/ha if irrigated); sow at 15-20 mm
mixtures sowing rates - 3-5 kg/ha
Sow in spring or early autumn.