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RED CLOVER: Trifolium pratense L.
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Red clover is the most widely grown of all the true clovers. It is grown
alone or in combination with grasses for hay, pasture, and soil
improvement. Most American red clovers are the early-flowering type, known
collectively as "medium red clover". This type is characterized by
producing two or three hay crops per year and having a biennial or
short-lived perennial growth habit. "Mammoth" red clover is the principle
late-flowering type grown in the United States. The late-flowering or
single-cut type usually produces one hay crop plus an aftermath. |
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Red clover requires ample precipitation to produce high forage yields, thus,
it is limited to the eastern 1/3 of Kansas. It performs best on those soils
with good water retention and drainage qualities. Deep loams, silt loams,
and even fairly heavy soils are preferable to shallow or sandy soils. |
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Taproots of
red clover plants can penetrate depths of up to six feet and numerous roots
will develop laterally from the taproot making red clover an excellent soil
improvement crop. Usually the taproot disintegrates in the second year and
surviving plants rely upon the development of a strong secondary root
system. |
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Red clover is a herbaceous plant made up of numerous leafy stems arising
from a crown. The flowers are borne on heads of compact clusters at the
tips of the branches. Each flower cluster can consist of as many as 125
individual flowers. Flower color is rose purple or magenta. The shape is
similar to pea flowers, although much smaller. Seeds are contained in
coiled pods and are oblong to slightly kidney-shaped and vary in color from
pure yellow to purple. |
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Red clover
will grow on moderately acid soil and be moderately productive, however, for
maximum production soil pH should be 6.4 or higher. |
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Altaswede Red Clover is a late flowering red clover with good winter
hardiness. It is more tolerant of acidic soils than Alsike Clover but does
not tolerate drought well.
Late-flowering cultivars are more tolerant of grazing than early-flowering
cultivars since the growth buds on the plant crowns are more numerous.
However, continuous stocking at a high grazing pressure will reduce plant
persistence due to foliage removal and crown damage by hoof trampling.
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USE AND
MANAGEMENT:
In the
first year of the stand one hay crop may be attempted, weather permitting. If
the newly seeded red clover blooms by September 5 in northeast Kansas or by
September 15 in southeast Kansas, the growth should be removed by grazing,
haying, or clipping. Red clover allowed to bloom in the seedling year has much
less winter-hardiness than plants which do not bloom. If a hay crop is
harvested the seedling year, the stand should not be grazed prior to freeze down.
In succeeding years, the first hay crop should be taken in the pre-bloom to
early bloom stage. Subsequent hay crops should be taken when plants are in
early bloom. Often, the first crop is harvested as hay and subsequent crops
harvested by grazing animals. Red clover as pasture should be grazed at six to
seven week intervals utilizing rotational rather than continuous grazing. Bloat
can be a serious problem with cattle grazing red clover. Grazing animals should
be observed closely and provided with plenty of dry roughage. Anti-foaming
products (Bloat Guard) are recommended but care must be taken to insure each
animal regularly consumes an adequate supply.
Red
clover is routinely over-seeded into pastures and meadows to improve quality and
yield. In a study conducted by Kansas State University extension researchers on
a farm near Girard, red clover interseeded into tall fescue dramatically
increased the amount and quality of forage produced.
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