Red Clover Grass
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Red clover grass is a perennial forage legume. It establishes and produces quickly but its poor persistence limits the lifespan to 2-3 years. It has a prostrate, stoloniferous growth habit. It is very palatable, nutritious and highly digestible.
Description
Red clover grass, scientifically known as Trifolium pratense, is a leguminous perennial plant that belongs to the clover genus Trifolium. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa but has been naturalized in many regions worldwide. Red clover grass is commonly grown as a forage crop in pastures and hayfields due to its high nutritional value, palatability, and ability to improve soil fertility.
Characteristics: It typically grows upright, reaching heights of up to 2 feet (60 cm). It has trifoliate leaves with distinct reddish-purple flowers arranged in dense, spherical clusters at the end of long stalks. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators, making red clover grass not only valuable for forage but also beneficial for supporting pollinator populations.
Forage Value: Red clover grass is highly valued as a forage crop for livestock due to its high protein content and digestibility. It is commonly included in pasture mixes and hayfields to provide nutritious feed for grazing animals, including cattle, sheep, and horses. Red clover grass can be grazed directly by livestock or harvested for hay or silage, contributing to their health and productivity.
Nitrogen Fixation: Similar to other legumes, this grass has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. These bacteria colonize the root nodules of the plant, where they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be utilized by the plant for growth. This nitrogen fixation process not only benefits the red clover grass itself but also enriches the surrounding soil with nitrogen, improving soil fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Soil Health: Red clover grass plays a crucial role in improving soil health and structure. Its deep root system helps to aerate the soil, improve water infiltration, and reduce soil erosion. Additionally, the nitrogen-fixing capabilities of red clover grass contribute to soil fertility, enhancing the growth of neighboring plants and promoting overall ecosystem health.
Cultural Significance: In addition to its agricultural value, it holds cultural significance in many societies. It has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for its purported health benefits, including as a remedy for respiratory ailments, skin conditions, and menopausal symptoms.
In summary, red clover grass is a valuable forage crop with high nutritional value, soil-improving properties, and ecological benefits. Its ability to fix nitrogen, support pollinators, and provide nutritious feed makes it an essential component of sustainable agricultural systems and ecosystem management strategies.
It is a perennial forage legume. It establishes and produces quickly but its poor persistence limits the lifespan to 2-3 years. It has a prostrate, stoloniferous growth habit. It is very palatable, nutritious and highly digestible.
The deep taproot system, enables the plant to extract water from deep soil layers. It is most often used with White Clover in mixtures with grass species, thereby effectively improving the quality of a pasture.
Red Clover has very good summer production (relative to White Clover) and this is the sought after quality and reason for including it with White Clover.
Where to use Red Clover grass
It requires a minimum average of 750 mm per year, however when produced under irrigation production is optimised and stress limited.
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