Red Clover
An important clover for pasture, hay and silage in California.
Red Clover originally from Europe has been used for hundreds of years for forage. Red Clover is a short lived perennial (lives 2-3 years). Palatable, tall growing, has lower bloat hazard, and likes neutral to acid soils. Red Clover will grow on all types of soil, but will not tolerate 'wet' soils.
Uses:
- planted alone for soil improvement, hay bee feed, grazing and silage.
- planted in pasture mixes for increased yields and nitrogen fixation
- planted in old alfalfa fields to get one or two years more of hay with no-till drill
- planted for ornamental use in flower mixtures
Requires:
- irrigation, will survive one winter and spring under dryland conditions
- for best production a soil high in phosphorous, potassium, and sulfur nutrients.
|
Bloom Stage |
Crude Protein %
|
Dry Matter %
|
|
| Alfalfa | |||
|
prebud
|
26.8
|
16.5
|
|
|
bud
|
23.6
|
18.3
|
|
|
10%
|
20.4
|
20.0
|
|
|
50%
|
19.4
|
21.1
|
|
|
Red Clover
|
|||
|
5%
|
21.2
|
20.3
|
|
|
30%
|
18.5
|
20.1
|
|
|
50%
|
17.6
|
21.3
|
|
Yield average @ 30% bloom two
year average, several varieties
15 tons @ 18% crude protein
Above borrowed from UC Leaflet 2133 with editing
Seeding rates
- alone 15-20 pounds per acre
- mixtures up to 50% by weight
- No-till seeding alone up to 15 pounds per acre
Can be mixed with grasses, clovers, and alfalfa. Avoid cutting in pre bloom stage as this delays regrowth.
Diseases: use varieties resistant to mildew as this can really hurt quality in first harvest in the spring.
For seed, additional information on how Red Clover can meet your needs, call Kellogg's Ag. Service.