Subterranean clover

Name:

Subterranean Sub Clover (Trifolium subterraneum)

Description:

A self-regenerating annual. Grows mainly in autumn, winter and spring. Suited to moderately acid to neutral soils. Best suited legume for large areas of southern New South Wales. Resists grazing as seeds are buried.

Ensure reliable seed set and improved persistence by using the most suitable variety for a particular district. Mixtures of varieties can be used to take advantage of extended seasons, for example, by including a slightly longer-season (later maturing) variety, and improve persistence by including a slightly shorter-season (early maturing) variety that has a higher proportion of hard seed. (The subterranean clover varieties are listed from late to early maturity). Sow in early to late autumn.

Sowing rate:

4–10 kg/ha. Inoculant Group C.

Minimum average
annual rainfall:
375 mm Southern NSW to 600 mm Northern NSW.
Select varieties on the basis of:

Type of sub clover: Subterranean sub clovers are adapted to neutral to moderately acid soils; Brachycalycinum sub clovers are best suited to neutral to alkaline soils; Yanninicum types of sub clover are especially suited to poorly drained waterlogged soils.

Hard seed levels: High hard seed levels are desirable where persistence is needed in drier parts of the sub clover zone. Low levels suit higher rainfall areas with late maturing varieties (see
Appendix VI.

Maturity: Use earlier maturing varieties in drier more marginal areas, and later maturing varieties where spring rainfall is reliable (see Appendix VI).

Phytophthora root rot: Root rot tolerance is important in poorly drained soils in high rainfall areas and under irrigation. There are three known races of Phytophthora root rot. Varieties with resistance to less than all three races are designated as partially resistant in the table.

Production potential: Especially winter production (very dependent on plant density). Long season production is important where late spring conditions occur or where irrigation is available - seek local results where available

Oestrogen levels: Do not grow older varieties as some varieties (e.g. Dwalganup, Yarloop) can have high levels of plant oestrogens that may result in livestock infertility. All listed varieties have low levels and are unlikely to cause clover disease in sheep.

Other diseases: e.g. clover scorch in particular may be a problem in higher rainfall districts.

Seed available:
Variety/brand Comments Main Seed Source
Subterraneum sub species – Varieties particularly suited to acid to neutral soils
Very late maturing, very low hard seed levels
Leura Partially resistant to root rot, susceptible to scorch Wrightson Seeds
Mid – late maturing, low hard seed levels
Denmark Partially resistant to root rot, resistant to scorch Seedmark/PlantTech
Karridale Partially resistant to root rot, moderately resistant to scorch Public variety
Mid – late season, moderate hard seed levels
Goulburn Partially resistant to root rot, resistant to scorch Wrightsons
Mid season, low hard seed levels
Woogenellup Susceptible to root rot and scorch Public variety
Mid season, moderate hard seed levels
Junee Susceptible to root rot, resistant to scorch Public variety
Coolamon Premier Seeds, Auswest
Mid season, high hard seed levels
Campeda Seedmark/PlantTech
Early – mid season, very high hard seed levels
York Partially resistant to root rot, susceptible to scorch Seedmark/PlantTech
Early – mid season, moderate hard seed levels
Seaton Park LF Resistant to root rot, susceptible to scorch Public variety
Early season, high hard seed levels
Urana Resistant clover scorch Auswest Seeds, Premier seeds
Losa Seedmark/PlantTech
Dalkeith Partially resistant to root rot, susceptible to scorch Public variety
Dalsa Seed Distributors
Very early season, high hard seed levels
Nungarin Susceptible to root rot and scorch Public variety
Izmir Premier Seeds, Auswest
Ballard Seeds
Brachycalycinum sub species – Varieties particularly suited to neutral to alkaline soils
Mid season, low hard seed levels
Clare Susceptible to root rot and scorch Public variety
Clare2 Seed Distributors
Mid season, moderate hard seed levels
Antas Seedmark/PlantTech
Koala Seeds Distributors
Early– mid season moderate hard seed levels
Rosedale Susceptible to root rot, moderately resistant to scorch Seedmark/PlantTech
Mintaro Seedmark/Planttech
Yaninnicum sub species – Varieties particularly suited to poorly drained waterlogged soils
Late season, moderate hard seed levels
Meteora Partially resistant to root rot, resistant to scorch Public variety
Napier Resistant to root rot Resistant to scorch Seedmark/PlantTech
Mid season, moderate hard seed levels
Gosse Resistant to root rot and scorch Seedmark/PlantTech
Riverina Resistant to root rot and scorch Premier Seeds, Auswest
Early – mid season, low hard seed levels
Trikkala Partially resistant root rot, moderately resistant to scorch Public variety
Subterranean sub clover