Red clover

Red clover
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NOTE: The information in this Agnote must be read in conjunction with Introduction to selecting and using pastures in NSW, which covers information on areas of adaptation, sources of variability, species mixtures, and important issues related to animal health and the conservation of native vegetation.

Pasture type and use	Short-lived legume lasting 1–2 years in most situations (longer if grazing management allows seedling recruitment). Also grown as a hay crop for extraction of phyto-oestrogenic compounds.
	Main growth in spring, summer and autumn. Irrigated or dryland. Hay, grazing, silage, crop rotations. Makes high quality hay that has good leaf to stem ratio.
Area of adaptation	Suited to high-rainfall areas with a summer dominance. Performs best in cool coastal and tablelands areas.
Min. average annual rainfall	700 mm (southern NSW) to 800 mm (northern NSW).
Advantages	High quality feed in spring, summer and autumn, with little winter growth. Deeper rooted than white clover, often resulting in valuable growth in dry periods when other legumes can’t access moisture. Can produce a bulk of feed in summer. Suitable for grazing or hay. Can be grown in a short-term pasture mixture. Can tolerate slightly more acidic soils than lucerne. Potential to input nitrogen into the soil.
Disadvantages	Susceptible to root rot. Some older cultivars can cause infertility in livestock. Sensitive to moisture stress. Not tolerant of salinity.
Soil requirements	Well-drained, fertile, slightly acid to neutral soils. pH(Ca) > 5.2; exchangeable aluminium < 10%. Needs good moisture-holding capacity.
Varieties	Select varieties on the basis of oestrogen level, maturity, ploidy and seasonal growth. Early-maturing diploids: Grasslands Hamua (‘Cowgrass’) - high oestrogen.* Grasslands Sensation * - medium oestrogen.* Grasslands Colenso * - medium oestrogen.* Early-maturing stoloniferous diploids: Astred * - low oestrogen.* Grasslands Broadway * Early-maturing tetraploids: PAC 19 - high oestrogen.* Mid-season-maturing diploids: Redquin - low oestrogen.* Renegade - medium oestrogen.* Ceres Claret - medium oestrogen Late-season diploids: Grasslands Turoa (‘Montgomery’) - high oestrogen.* Late-season tetraploids: Grasslands Pawera - high oestrogen.* After Charlton, D & Stewart, A 2000, Pasture and Forage Plants for New Zealand, NZ Grasslands Association. Denotes that this variety is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights.
Sowing rates:
- as only species	4–5 kg/ha
- in mixtures	1–2 kg/ha
Sowing time	Sow in autumn or spring. New plants/growth can be sensitive to frost damage. Do not sow too deep (sowing depth 10–15 mm).
Companion species	Combines well with short-term ryegrasses. Can be included in permanent perennial mixtures, adding high quality in the first 1–2 years. Potential to increase feed quality when sown with summer crops.
Inoculation	Group B. Should also be lime-pelleted.
Major nutrient deficiencies	Phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, molybdenum. Assess with regular soil tests.
Main insect pests	Resistant to spotted alfalfa aphid; susceptible to pea aphid, redlegged earth mite, blue oat mite, cut worms. For seed crops, pests are native bud worms (heliothis), mirrids, thrips.
Main diseases	Phytophthora root rot, rust.
Management	Lenient grazing in the first year will enhance production and persistence (on the tablelands only). Rotational grazing improves persistence. Set stocking will decrease persistence. Red clover is sensitive to commonly used hormone-type herbicides.
Livestock disorders of particular note	Infertility sometimes due to oestrogenic compounds; bloat in cattle; urinary calculi (clover stones) incidence may increase in sheep; occasionally red gut in sheep.
Additional tips	Average seed count 550 000 seeds/kg. Flower colour pink-purple.
Further information	Weed Control in Lucerne and Pastures, JJ Dellow, NSW Agriculture, 1998.

Acknowledgments

Advice on livestock health disorders was provided by Dr Chris Bourke, Principal Research Scientist, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange. His contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

Photo: Mary-Anne Lattimore, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Yanco.