Red Clover

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth, J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke

Red clover, native to most of Europe and portions of Asia, was introduced into this country over 200 years ago. It is widely adaptable, and can be grown with grasses and other legumes for hay, pasture and silage in short-term rotations. It is also a good green manure crop.

Two types of red clover are grown in Montana. The most commonly grown are single-cut varieties, also known as mammoth or late-flowering red clover, which produces one good crop of hay and enough regrowth for excellent fall pasture. The double-cut varieties, also known as medium or early-flowering red clover, can be cut earlier than the single-cut types, and because they recover quickly, can produce a good second crop. This type, however, is not as hardy or persistent as the single-cut type.

Most of the common varieties of red clover are diploid (2n = 14). The tetraploids (2n = 28) may be of the early-flowering, double-cut or late-flowering, single-cut types. Tetraploids usually have coarser stems, larger leaves, larger flowers and slightly-larger seed.

Description

Red clover is a short-lived perennial that is adapted to well-drained soils. Good stands persist for two to three years depending on the variety, type, soil and climate. The hairy and leafy stems arise from the crown.

Each leaf is divided into three oblong leaflets, with a halo or light-colored marking in the center of each leaflet. Flower color usually is rose-purple or magenta. The plant has a tap root with many side branches, but the roots do not penetrate the soil as deeply as those of alfalfa. A large part of the root system is concentrated in the top 12 inches of soil. It establishes itself very readily as the seedlings are very vigorous.

Adaptation

Red clover is adapted to a wide range of soil types, but it is best suited to humid areas with moderate temperatures. It is recommended for use in the semi-moist and moist areas on loams and silt loams. Even moderately-fine-textured soils are preferred to light-sandy or gravelly soils.

Red clover is not as drought resistant as alfalfa. It grows well at elevations of about 5,000 feet. It is more tolerant of acid soils than alfalfa, alsike clover or sweetclover, but yields are reduced if soil pH is less than 5.0. It is not as well adapted as alsike clover to low, poorly-drained soils. Red clover is quite cold tolerant.

Limitations

Being short-lived, single-cut red clover varieties do not constitute a major portion of a stand for more than three years. Double-cut varieties remain productive for only one, or at most, two years when grown under favorable conditions.

Although red clover has a low tolerance to flooding and waterlogging, it is more tolerant of poor drainage than alfalfa and sweetclover, and will survive two weeks of spring flooding. Red clover is intolerant of salinity or lengthy periods of drought.

The small seed should be sown at a shallow depth.

Diseases, such as crown and root rots, northern anthracnose, black stem and powdery mildew, decrease yield and frequently contribute to winterkill by reducing vigor. Snow mold may also cause winterkill. Harmful insects include grasshoppers, leaf hoppers, root borer, lygus bugs, thrips, clover seed chalcids and clover seed midge.

Use for Hay

In the moister areas of Montana, red clover frequently gives the highest yield of all forages. Single-cut varieties are usually harvested at a more mature stage to obtain highest yields, but a lower percentage of protein and energy. Although double-cut varieties have not been used much because of short life span, they can produce large quantities of excellent-quality hay when two cuttings are harvested. Areas that are unsuitable for alfalfa may be able to make use of double-cut red clover in short rotations.

For good growth and establishment, red clover seed should be inoculated just before planting.

Because it is very high in moisture content, gives a high yield and is adapted to moist areas, it is a difficult forage to dry for hay. Preservation of green color is more difficult than with other legumes so that hay often appears to be of poorer quality than it is. Red clover grows very well with timothy and this also makes for easier harvesting. It gives a full yield in the first utilization year.

Use for Pasture

Even single-cut varieties regrow well after haying and make very palatable fall pasture. Also, fall grazing is not likely to deplete root carbohydrates. Red clover is satisfactory in a pasture mixture although its short life limits its usefulness to the first two to three years of production, and it tends to dominate the stand initially.

The bloat hazard is almost as great as with alfalfa, and normal precautions should be taken where there is history of bloat.

* The Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook (EB69) is no longer in print, but is available for viewing in
Montana County Extension Service and National Resource Conservation Service Offices.