Berseem Clover
Trifolium alexandrinum
Berseem clover is an erect, annual with a short taproot; 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; ~350,000/kg. Sow in spring or early autumn. Best with inoculation, Group B
Pros
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highly nutritive
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free of oestrogen risks
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suited to seasonal irrigation
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great as a green cover crop
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mainly used with irrigation
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likes neutral soil pH 6-8
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moderately tolerant of water-logging
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well suited to deep alluvial soils
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some tolerance of salinity
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good heat tolerance
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suited to cutting for hay or silage.
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quick regrowth
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rotationally grazing when 15-20 cm tall; this stimulates tillering
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avoid overgrazing
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high feed value - high protein content
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palatable
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low risk of bloat
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low risk of estrogen
Cons
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poor regeneration; intolerant of heavy frost
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low cold tolerance least winter hardy of the cultivated clovers
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should not be grown where winter temperatures drop low as 6°C. regularly
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damaged by most broad-leaf herbicides Glyphosate susceptibility
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