Uncert White clover

Trifolium repens
	
	
trifoliate leaves smooth, hairless
	
	
	
leaflet oval or heart shape may have a light crescent mark on the upper side. 
	
	
	
cultivars range from small-leaved, low growing and lower-yielding to large-leaved upright types
	
	
	
flower heads made up of 30-40 flower clusters on a long stalk; to 2.5 cm diameter; pale pink/white, fade to brown
	
	
	
small pods containing 3-4 seeds which are brown/yellow; egg/heart-shape; ~1.6 million/kg
	
 
Pros
	
	
high nutritive value, adds to grass/clover pastures
	
	
	
year-round growth with vigorous growth in spring/summer
	
	
	
well adapted to grazing - potentially long-lived perennial
	
	
	
over-winters by a network of horizontal stems, stolons 
	
	
	
can be grazed hard but is susceptible to sustained heavy grazing by sheep in dry conditions
	
	
	
fixes nitrogen in pastures, improving overall pasture production 
	
	
	
productive perennial for high rainfall greater than 700mm or irrigated pasture;
	
	
	
cold and frost tolerant. likes 18-30°C
	
	
	
suited to soil pH > 4.5; optimum 5.3 
	
	
	
tolerates poorly drained soils 
	
	
	
well suited to peaty soil
	
	
	
Olsen soil P > 15
	
	
	
correct any nutrient deficiencies, especially K, P, Mo, S, Cu, B
	
	
	
very suitable for silage/hay.
	
 
 cons
	
	
vigour limited by viral diseases
	
	
	
low tolerance to summer moisture stress,
	
	
	
high bloat risk if dominant in spring. May contain cyanogenic glucoside compounds; the concentration is rarely sufficient to be significant.
	
 
Pasture type and use
Sown spring or Autumn
Sowing rate 2-4 kg/ha in a mix; sow depth 5-15 mm.
 
Pasture mix suggestions
most temperate grasses including perennial ryegrass, phalaris, tall fescue. Legumes like strawberry clover, red clover and sub. clovers.
Herbs like plantain, chicory
 
Sowing/planting rates in mixtures
2-4 kg/ha