White Clover Grass

White Clover Grass

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White Clover grass is a perennial forage legume with a prostrate, stoloniferous growth habit. It is very palatable, nutritious and highly digestible. Trifoliate leaves are smooth and abundant. It has a deep primary taproot in the first season, with secondary roots taking over from season two when the primary tap root dies off.

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Description

White clover grass, often referred to simply as white clover (Trifolium repens), is a perennial legume that is commonly found in grasslands, lawns, pastures, and meadows. While white clover is not a grass itself, it is often included in grass seed mixes and is an integral component of many pasture systems due to its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and its ability to improve soil health and forage quality.

Characteristics: White clover grass typically grows low to the ground, with creeping stems that root at nodes and trifoliate leaves. It produces small, white, globe-shaped flowers that are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Unlike grasses, which are monocots, white clover is a dicot, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae.

Nitrogen Fixation: One of the most significant attributes of white clover grass is its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. These bacteria colonize the root nodules of white clover, where they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plant can use for growth. This nitrogen fixation process not only benefits the white clover plant itself but also enriches the surrounding soil with nitrogen, which can benefit companion grasses and other plants in the ecosystem.

Forage Value: This grass is highly valued as a forage crop due to its high protein content, palatability, and digestibility. It is commonly grazed by livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses and is often included in pasture mixes to improve the overall nutritional quality of the forage. White clover grass provides an important source of protein and energy for grazing animals, contributing to their health and productivity.

Soil Health: In addition to its forage value, white clover grass plays a crucial role in improving soil health. Its extensive root system helps to aerate the soil, improve water infiltration, and reduce soil erosion. Furthermore, the nitrogen-fixing capabilities of white clover grass contribute to soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Ecological Benefits: It provides various ecological benefits, including attracting pollinators, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting soil microbial communities. Its ability to fix nitrogen not only benefits neighboring plants but also contributes to overall ecosystem health by reducing the reliance on external nitrogen inputs.

In summary, it is a valuable component of grassland ecosystems and agricultural systems, providing forage for livestock, improving soil health, and supporting biodiversity. Its nitrogen-fixing abilities and ecological contributions make it an essential species in sustainable land management practices.

White Clover grass is a perennial forage legume with a prostrate, stoloniferous growth habit. It is very palatable, nutritious and highly digestible. Trifoliate leaves are smooth and abundant. It has a deep primary taproot in the first season, with secondary roots taking over from season two when the primary tap root dies off. White Clover grass is therefore not as drought tolerant as Lucerne.

Where to use White Clover grass

White Clover is seldom planted in a pure stand. Its main application is to plant in blends with grass species, thereby improving the quality of a pasture. It is mostly produced under irrigation, but requires 800 mm rainfall if produced without irrigation.

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