Remember, though, a clover rich sward may be too rich for horses and for native ponies in particular. The ground should be rolled both before and after seeding to ensure that the seed has a good contact with the soil.
#Clover diary plus#
Timing is important, as clover needs a soil temperature of at least 7C plus sufficient moisture to ensure satisfactory germination. Clover can be established in existing grassland by overseeding. Maintaining a pH of around 6 and ensuring adequate levels of phosphate and potassium are essential to producing a good crop of clover. The flowers of white clover are, of course, wonderful for bees and other insects too. Large leafed clover will not tolerate the close grazing of sheep, so is better for cow pasture or silage. Medium leafed white clover is higher yielding than small leafed when cut for silage or hay. Look for the Clover symbol as our pledge to you: The Clover family will only serve pure Clover quality to you and.
From that time, we have upheld a tradition of quality, freshness and flavor in each refreshment bearing the Clover Farms name. The smaller the leaf, the more tolerant the clover is of close grazing. In 1937, Clover Farms was established within the rich, rolling hills of Pennsylvania Dutch dairy country. The white clover stem runs along the ground, producing leaves and flower heads at low level making it suitable for grazing. It is also very palatable to stock, including horses for which the protein content is much too high. The protein content of white clover is around 27%, compared to perennial ryegrass at 17%. White clover is more persistent than red, and although its yield is less, it can be used for both grazing and silage. White clover is classified by its leaf size – small, medium, large and very large. Red clover can be used for finishing lambs but breeding ewes must not be given access to it for six weeks before or after conception as the high oestrogen levels in the plant can cause problems. However, it is not persistent, lasting only two to three years.įor silage, it is better sown with grasses that can take advantage of the fixed nitrogen and give a higher forage yield, while the clover increases the protein content. Unlike grass, it has a single, deep root, which makes it relatively drought tolerant and it is winter hardy. It is usually used in leys for silage production but can be sown on its own as part of a rotation to improve soil fertility. Red clover is high yielding and high in protein.
There are two main types of clover, classified by the colour of the flower – red and white. Depending on the amount of clover (30% to 50%) in the sward, it can contribute the equivalent of 150 – 200kg of nitrogen per hectare. This produces nitrogen in a form that plants can use. Rhizobium bacteria in the roots of the plant fix the nitrogen into ammonia in return for sugars supplied by the plant. Clover fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere in its roots.
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