Identifying Pasture Legumes (A3787) · Identifying pasture legumes Dennis Cosgrove and Dan Undersander egumes are an important component of Midwestern pastures. They increase yield

A3787A3787A3787A3787A3787

Identifyingpasture legumesDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDennis CosgroveDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan UndersanderDan Undersander

Contents

Using this guide .......................................... 2

Parts of a legume plant ............................. 3

Glossary ...................................................... 4

How a legume grows ................................ 5

Seed & seedling identification ..................... 7Large seeds (2.5 mm or larger) ................ 8

Crown vetch ............................................. 8

Hairy vetch............................................... 9

Medium seeds (1.6 mm to 2.4 mm) ........ 10

Alfalfa ................................................... 10

Birdsfoot trefoil ........................................ 11

Kura clover ............................................. 12

Red clover .............................................. 13

Sweet clover ........................................... 14

Small seeds (1.5 mm or smaller) ............ 15

Alsike clover ........................................... 15

White clover ........................................... 16

Vegetative plant & flower characteristics . 17

Petiolule present ....................................... 18

Alfalfa ................................................... 18

Sweet clover ........................................... 19

No petiolule–leaf variegation .................. 20

Kura clover ............................................. 20

Red clover .............................................. 21

White clover ........................................... 22

No petiolule–no leaf variegation ............ 23

Alsike clover ........................................... 23


Crown vetch ........................................... 25

Hairy vetch............................................. 26

Legume management & descriptions ........... 27

Alfalfa ................................................... 28

Alsike clover ........................................... 30


Crown vetch ........................................... 34

Hairy vetch............................................. 36

Kura clover ............................................. 38

Red clover .............................................. 40

Sweet clover ........................................... 42

White clover ........................................... 44

Species information .................................... 46

1

Identifyingpasture legumesDennis Cosgrove and Dan Undersander

egumes are an important component ofMidwestern pastures. They increase yield andquality of grass pastures and provide nitrogen

to grasses through fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.This booklet identifies the nine most commonlegumes in Midwestern pastures.

This guide will help you identify legumes thefirst year, when you need to know if a seeding wassuccessful. It will also help you identify legumes inestablished pastures so you can make informeddecisions about pasture management, fencing andrenovation.

This booklet is organized in three parts:

■ Seed and seedling identification for newplantings,

■ Identification of established plants (withflowers), and

■ Information about growth habit andmanagement for each legume.

What is a legume?A legume is defined as a plant with seeds in a

pod that splits into two distinct halves. Somecommon examples are peas, beans and peanuts. Theplants discussed in this booklet have this characteris-tic and are therefore classified as legumes. We rarelysee the seedpods on these plants as they are usuallyharvested well before they form. Many legumes havecompound leaves (more than one leaflet per leaf )and fix nitrogen. This is not a good description of alegume however as many non-legumes also possessthese traits.

L

2 PASTURE LEGUMES

Using this guideBefore you plant

Before purchasing legume seeds, you may wantto consult the legume management section of thisbooklet. It describes the ideal uses for each speciesand outlines the best techniques for successfulestablishment, management and harvest. Thespecies information chart on page 46 summarizesseeding rates and relative tolerance to drought,grazing and cold temperatures.

Identifying seeds and seedlingsThe best time to identify seedlings is in the 3-

to 4-leaf stage. At this time vegetative characteristicsshould be easily seen. Forage legumes exhibitsignificant variation among populations of the samespecies and often grow in mixed stands of severalspecies. For this reason it is best to examine severalplants to determine if the identifying characteristicsyou observe are consistent.

Identifying vegetative legumesand flowers

We have organized the legumes in this sectionaccording to leaf characteristics. Determine if theleaf has a petiolule. Then use the guide to compareother vegetative characteristics. If the plant isflowering, the flower type and color may also behelpful.

Variety selectionFor more information on variety selection,

consult Extension publication Forage VarietyUpdate for Wisconsin (A1525) or visitwww.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/uwforage.htm

PASTURE LEGUMES 3

Parts of a legume plant

Flower

Leaf

Leaflet

Stem

Petiole

Taproot

Crown

{

Nodules

{Stolon

Rhizome

Leaflet

Stem

Petiolule

Petiole

Stipule

Sweet clover leafwith petiolule

Kura clover leafno petiolule

Leaflet

Petiole

Stipule

Watermarkor variegation

4 PASTURE LEGUMES

GlossaryHead A dense inflorescence of flowers without

stems.

Inflorescence The arrangement of flowers onthe floral axis.

Internode Area of the stem between the nodes.

Node The point on the stem where leaves areattached.

Petiole The stalk of a leaf which connects the leafto the stem.

Petiolule Extension of the petiole into theleaflets of a compound leaf.

Pubescence Small hairs on the surface of leavesand stems.

Raceme An inflorescence in which flowers aremounted on short stems along a central axis.

Rhizome An underground stem which is capableof producing new plants at the nodes.

Stipule Small, pointed, leaf-like structures at thebase of the petiole.

Stolon A prostrate above-ground stem which iscapable of producing new plants at nodes.

Tendril A slender modified leaflet used forsupport.

Umbel An inflorescence in which flowers aremounted on short stems all arising from acommon point.

Variegation A pattern of lighter colored tissueon a leaf.

PASTURE LEGUMES 5

How a legume growslants get energy from the sun. Throughphotosynthesis, plants convert energy tocarbohydrates, which can either be used for

growth or stored for future use. Forage growth isslow when plants are small (early spring growth orafter grazing). When plants have few green leaves,they must rely heavily on stored carbohydrates fortheir energy. As leaves get bigger, photosynthesisincreases dramatically, allowing for rapid growth.Before flowering, most pasture plants are growing asfast as possible if other factors are not limiting.Once the plant begins to flower, growth slows sincemost energy is diverted to flower and seed produc-tion. Forage quality decreases as plants age. Thisoccurs because, as plants get larger and morestemmy, a greater percentage of nutrients and drymatter is tied up in non-digestible forms (such aslignin).

P

Early

Veg. La

te

Veg. Bu

dEa

rly

Bloo

m Late

Bloo

m

CARBOHYDRATERESERVES

CARBOHYDRATERESERVES

6 PASTURE LEGUMES

Good managers balance pasture quality againstyield. The best time to graze is immediatelyfollowing the most rapid growth but beforeflowering and seeding. A good rule of thumb is towait until legumes are 10 inches tall before grazing.At this stage, sufficient carbohydrate reserves havebeen built up to allow for rapid regrowth; inaddition, both yield and quality are high. If grazingoccurs before the forage has had time to rebuild itscarbohydrate reserves, yield will be low, the nextregrowth may be slow, and winter survival may bedecreased. One of the cornerstones of a successfulgrazing system is having rest periods long enough toallow for rapid forage regrowth.

Early

Veg. La

te

Veg. Bu

dEa

rly

Bloo

m Late

Bloo

m

QUALITYQUALITY

YIELDYIELD

SEED

& S

EEDL

ING

IDEN

TIFIC

ATIO

N

LARG

E SEE

DS2.

5 m

m o

r la

rger

Crown vetch

seed size 2.2–4.0 mmseed shape/color rod shapedleaflets/leaf manyleaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation none

8 PASTURE LEGUMES

Seed & seedling characteristics

Hairy vetch

seed size 2.7–4.9 mmseed shape/color large and round,

dark colorleaflets/leaf manyleaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence presentvariegation noneother tendrils at end of leaf

SEED & SEEDLING IDENTIFICATION 9


MED

IUM

SEE

DS1.

6 m

m to

2.4

mm

Alfalfa

seed size 2.3–2.6 mmseed shape/color kidney shaped with

small beakleaflets/leaf 3 (some varieties

have 5–7)leaf margin serrations on upper

thirdpetiolule presentpubesence nonevariegation none

10 PASTURE LEGUMES


Birdsfoot trefoil

seed size 1.2–1.7 mmseed shape/color round, brownleaflets/leaf 5leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation none



MED

IUM

SEE

DS1.

6 m

m to

2.4

mm

Kura clover

seed size 1.5–2.1mmseed shape/color mitten shaped,

brownishleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation white “V” on leafother rhizomes present

12 PASTURE LEGUMES


seed size 1.5–2.1 mmseed shape/color mitten shaped,

yellowish redleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence presentvariegation white “V” on leaf

Red clover



14 PASTURE LEGUMES

MED

IUM

SEE

DS1.

6 m

m to

2.4

mm

Sweet clover

seed size 1.7–2.5 mmseed shape/color mitten shaped,

dull green colorleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin serrations on entire

marginpetiolule presentpubescence nonevariegation none



SMAL

L SEE

DS1.

5 m

m o

r sm

alle

r

Alsike clover

seed size 1.0–1.3 mmseed shape/color mitten shaped with

shallow notch, darkcolor

leaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation noneother leaflets shiny

underneath


SMAL

L SEE

DS1.

5 m

m o

r sm

alle

r

White clover

seed size 0.9–1.2 mmseed shape/color heart shapedleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation white “V” on leaf

16 PASTURE LEGUMES


VEGE

TATI

VE P

LANT

& FL

OWER

CHA

RACT

ERIS

TICS

18 PASTURE LEGUMES

Alfalfa

PETI

OLUL

E PRE

SENT

growth habit erectleaflets/leaf 3 (some varieties

have 5–7)leaf margin serrations on upper

thirdpetiolule presentpubescence nonevariegation noneflower color purpleflower type raceme

Vegetative characteristics

VEGETATIVE PLANT & FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS 19

Sweet cloverVegetative characteristics

growth habit erectleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin serrations on entire

marginpetiolule presentpubescence nonevariegation noneflower color yellow or whiteflower type raceme

Kura cloverVegetative characteristics

NO P

ETIO

LULE

– LE

AF V

ARIEG

ATIO

N

growth habit erectleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation white “V” on leafflower color whitish pinkflower type headother rhizomes present

20 PASTURE LEGUMES

Red cloverVegetative characteristicsgrowth habit erectleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence presentvariegation white “V” on leafflower color reddish purpleflower type head


White cloverVegetative characteristics

NO P

ETIO

LULE

– LE

AF V

ARIEG

ATIO

N

growth habit prostrateleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation white “V” on leafflower color whiteflower type headother stolons present

22 PASTURE LEGUMES

Alsike cloverVegetative characteristics

NO P

ETIO

LULE

– N

O LE

AF V

ARIEG

ATIO

N

growth habit erectleaflets/leaf 3leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation noneflower color pinkish whiteflower type headother leaflets shiny

underneath


24 PASTURE LEGUMES

Birdsfoot trefoilVegetative characteristics

NO P

ETIO

LULE

– N

O LE

AF V

ARIEG

ATIO

N

growth habit prostrate, semi-erector erect dependingon variety

leaflets/leaf 5leaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation noneflower color yellowflower type umbel


Crown vetchVegetative characteristics

growth habit prostrateleaflets/leaf manyleaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence nonevariegation noneflower color purple and whiteflower type umbel

26 PASTURE LEGUMES

Hairy vetchVegetative characteristics

NO P

ETIO

LULE

– N

O LE

AF V

ARIEG

ATIO

N

growth habit prostrateleaflets/leaf manyleaf margin smoothpetiolule absentpubescence presentvariegation noneflower color purpleflower type racemeother tendrils at end of leaf

LEGU

ME M

ANAG

EMEN

T &

DESC

RIPT

IONS

28 PASTURE LEGUMES

AlfalfaSeeds/seedling, p. 10;vegetative characteristics, p. 18.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the mostwidely grown forage legume in Wisconsin. Itis a productive, high quality, long-lastinglegume adapted to both hay and grazing. It issensitive to low pH and soil drainage and itsuse as a pasture legume is somewhat limited.

Growth habitAlfalfa is an erect growing plant with

main stems arising from a large crown.Branches also occur from axillary buds on thestems. Alfalfa has a strong, deep taproot whichmakes it well adapted to sandy soils. It hasgood winterhardiness although may winterkillin cold, open winters.

EstablishmentAlfalfa is easily established in conven-

tional seedbeds or killed sods. It is not a goodchoice for frost seeding or interseeding intoexisting pastures. It does not reseed itself dueto autotoxicity caused by older, establishedplants that produce chemicals that inhibit thegrowth of seedlings.

LEGUME MANAGEMENT & DESCRIPTIONS 29

ManagementAlfalfa does well in a cut forage system when

three cuttings are made with 28- to 35-day intervalsand root carbohydrate levels are allowed to replen-ish. Harvesting typically takes place more frequentlyin grazing systems and root storage may not beadequate for regrowth after grazing. As a result,alfalfa should not be grazed closely, so some leaf arearemains. Plants should be allowed to regrow to atleast 10 inches tall between grazings. Quality is bestwhen grazed prior to the flowering stage. This effectis most pronounced in spring. Quality drops lessrapidly in late summer and fall. Allow a 6-week restperiod prior to October 15 to reduce winter injury.

Harvesting for hayThree cuttings of alfalfa prior to September 1

provide the greatest yield and quality of alfalfa. Firstcutting should be early and based on quality. Secondcutting should be at bud stage and the third at 10 to25% bloom. This later cutting allows rebuilding ofroot reserves and better over-wintering.

VarietiesThere are many alfalfa varieties available.

Generally, good hay types will also be good grazingtypes. Consider yield, disease resistance,winterhardiness and quality. Of particular interest ingrazing systems are grazing-tolerant alfalfas. Thesetypes have a lower set crown and put more energyinto carbohydrate storage than other types, makingthem better able to withstand grazing pressure.

30 PASTURE LEGUMES

Alsike cloverSeeds/seedling, p. 15;vegetative characteristics, p. 23.

Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) isan annual or biennial clover best adapted tomoist or poorly drained soils. It prefers coolertemperatures than red clover and so is welladapted to low-lying areas in the northern halfof the state. It is not tolerant of drought orhigh temperatures. It will tolerate a soil pH aslow as 5.0.

Growth habitAlsike clover has erect stems like red

clover but as they are more fine it is subject tolodging. Flowers are borne along the entirelength of the stem rather than at the tip as isred clover. Because the plant resembles redclover but the flower resembles white clover,alsike clover was once thought to be a hybridbetween red and white clover. This has sincebeen shown to not be the case.

EstablishmentAlsike clover establishes best in a tilled

seedbed or tilled sod. It is not a good candi-date for frost or interseeding.

ManagementAlsike clover forage is often of higher

quality than alfalfa or red clover. It should begrazed at full bloom.


VarietiesThere are no U.S. varieties of alsike clover

available. Most seed is common. Tetra, a Swedishvariety, has performed as well as common types inMinnesota trials.

32 PASTURE LEGUMES

Birdsfoot trefoilSeeds/seedling, p. 11;vegetative characteristics, p. 24.

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) isa common pasture legume. It is well adaptedto poorly drained, acidic soils. It is shallowrooted and therefore performs poorly onsandy soils. It is the only forage legume inWisconsin not known to cause bloat. It canreseed itself, resulting in long-lived stands.

Growth habitThree types of birdsfoot trefoil are grown

in Wisconsin: prostrate, erect and semi-erect.Prostrate types are low growing, morewinterhardy, have less vigorous seedlings andrecover more slowly than the more erect types.The prostrate types are more adapted tograzing. The erect types are best for haying.Semi-erect types are dual purpose and are themost commonly grown.

Birdsfoot trefoil has very fine stems and isprone to lodging. Many branches developfrom the lodged stems and from the lowerpart of erect stems.

EstablishmentSeedling vigor of birdsfoot trefoil is lower

than other common legumes. It is readilyestablished in tilled seedbeds or killed sods butis not a good candidate for frost seeding orinter-seeding in established pastures. Birdsfoottrefoil often has high levels of hard seed, soseed sown using these methods may germinatesome time after planting.


ManagementBirdsfoot trefoil utilizes root reserves to fuel

early spring growth. Unlike most legumes, trefoildoes not replenish root reserves again until latesummer. Regrowth between grazings must comefrom photosynthesis. It is critical therefore to notgraze trefoil too closely or regrowth will be slowedand plant health will decline. A stubble height of atleast 4 inches is recommended. Prostrate varieties oftrefoil are preferred for grazing as more leaf arearemains following grazing. Trefoil will reseed itself,so allowing the plants to flower and set seedoccasionally will help maintain long-lived stands.Trefoil tends to be of higher quality than alfalfa atsimilar growth stages and so can be grazed into theflower stage and still provide good forage quality.

Harvesting for hayTrefoil is best adapted to grazing but can be

used as a hay crop on poorly drained, acidic soils.Harvest trefoil for hay in the early flower stage.Leave a stubble height 2 to 4 inches to allow re-growth. Trefoil may be difficult to harvest as a haycrop due to fine leaves which tend to shatter easily.Time of baling is more critical than for other haycrops.

VarietiesErect types of trefoil

include Maitland andViking. Prostrate typesinclude AU-Dewey, Dawnand Empire. Semi-erecttypes are Mackinaw andNorcen. While all are suitedto grazing, prostrate andsemi-erect types are best.

34 PASTURE LEGUMES

Crown vetchSeeds/seedling, p. 8;vegetative characteristics, p. 25.

Crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) is usedprimarily for land reclamation and roadsidestabilization. It has not been used widely as aforage crop in the United States. It is tolerantof low soil pH and, once established, cantolerate prolong dry periods.

Growth habitCrown vetch has a prostrate growth

habit. Much of the above-ground growthconsists of long, pinnately compound leaves.It spreads by way of a creeping rootstock.


EstablishmentCrown vetch is slow to establish due to low

seedling vigor. It is best planted with a fastergrowing grass species. Adequate stands of crownvetch may not be realized until the second year.

ManagementCrown vetch is a poor choice for forage as it

lacks sufficient winterhardiness in Wisconsin,particularly when harvested for hay or grazed. It alsocontains compounds that reduce palatability. Crownvetch regrows from axillary buds after haying orgrazing so a sufficient stubble (6 inches) should beleft to ensure adequate stem area. Grazing shouldtake place 10 to 14 days after the first flowers appearthen grazed at 10 to 14 inches after that.

Harvesting for hayBecause of its prostrate growth habit and

succulent nature, crown vetch is not a good choicefor harvesting as hay. If necessary, harvest for hay 10to 14 days after flowering begins.

VarietiesThe most commonly used varieties of crown

vetch are Chemung, Emrald and Penngift.

36 PASTURE LEGUMES

Hairy vetchSeeds/seedling, p. 9;vegetative characteristics, p. 26.

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth L.) is anannual or winter annual legume. It is mostoften grown for soil improvement, roadside orbank stabilization. It can also be grown as apasture or hay crop. It grows well on a broadrange of soils but is best adapted to sands orloamy sands.

Growth habitAbove-ground growth consists of viny,

branched stems up to 6 feet long. Leaves arepinnately compound with a tendril at the tip.

EstablishmentIn Wisconsin vetch is best seeded from

July 25 to August 30. Winterhardiness may bea problem in open winters with no snowcover.


ManagementWhen seeded the previous summer, hairy vetch

can be grazed in May and June of the followingyear. Following grazing, vetch may then be ploweddown and a subsequent crop seeded for late summerpasture.

Harvesting for hayHairy vetch is typically seeded with a small

grain companion crop when grown for hay. Winterrye is a common choice for this purpose. Hairyvetch should be harvested when the first pods arewell developed. Earlier harvesting improves qualityif rye is included in the mixture, but reduces totalyield. These combinations make for a tangled haywhich is difficult to handle.

VarietiesMadison is a cold-tolerant variety developed in

Nebraska. Auburn, Oregon, and Lana are less coldtolerant and should only be grown in areas withmild winters.

38 PASTURE LEGUMES

Kura cloverSeeds/seedling, p. 12;vegetative characteristics, p. 20.

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum L.) is arhizomatous clover well adapted to grazing. Itis a high yielding, persistent legume. Likemost other clovers, it is well adapted to lowpH soils. Kura clover is slow to establish asmost early growth is devoted to rhizomerather than top growth. Once established,however, kura clover will persist indefinitely.

Growth habitKura clover spreads by an extensive

rhizome system. Above-ground growthconsists only of petioles and leaves arisingfrom a crown. It tolerates poorly drained,acidic soils but, due to the rhizome system, itis also fairly drought tolerant. It is one of themost cold tolerant legume species.

EstablishmentKura clover has poor seedling vigor and is

difficult to establish. Seedlings initiallyestablish, then appear to stop growing as mostenergy is devoted to below ground rhizomegrowth. This allows for weed encroachmentduring the seeding year. Kura clover should beestablished with some companion crop such asoats or other fast growing forage species. Bestresults will be obtained with a clean, tilledseedbed. No-till establishment is possible ifweeds are controlled. Interseeding intoexisting pastures will likely fail. Establishmentof kura clover is enhanced by the use of theproper inoculum and by nitrogen applicationsof 50 lb/acre in the establishment year.


ManagementDue to underground rhizomes, kura clover is

extremely tolerant of grazing. While it can be grazedin the seeding year, most forage production will takeplace in the second and subsequent years. As above-ground growth is all leaves, kura clover forage is ofvery high quality. Kura is best grown with a grassspecies as grazing pure stands can lead to bloat.Kura clover tolerates close grazing, but also main-tains high quality with less-intensive grazingsystems, so graze the mixed stand according to thegrazing needs of the grass species.

Harvesting for hayThe succulence of the above-ground growth

makes cutting and drying kura clover difficult. Ifgrown for hay, it should be grown in mixed standswith forage grasses.

VarietiesThree varieties of kura clover are currently

available: Rhizo, Cossack, and Endura. Endura, themost recently released variety, has improved seedlingvigor. It is likely that additional, more easilyestablished varieties will be released in the future.

40 PASTURE LEGUMES

Red cloverSeeds/seedling, p. 13;vegetative characteristics, p. 21.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is themost widely used clover in Wisconsin. It isadapted to a wide range of soil types andtolerates a pH as low as 5.5. It is a short-livedperennial which usually persists only two orthree years due to susceptibility to a numberof root diseases. Newer varieties may lastlonger than this.

Growth habitRed clover has an erect growth habit

similar to alfalfa, but the main stems originatelower on the plant. New shoots form fromaxillary buds at the crown. The crown of redclover is not as deep in the soil as alfalfa,making it more susceptible to winter injury. Ithas a shallow, highly branched root systemand so grows poorly on sandy soils withoutadequate rainfall.

EstablishmentRed clover is one of the easiest of the

clovers to establish. Successful stand establish-ment may be achieved by using a companioncrop or by direct seeding with herbicides. Redclover is also an excellent candidate for frostseeding or interseeding for improvement ofexisting pastures.


ManagementRed clover provides high quality forage

throughout the grazing season. Red clover qualitydoes not decline as rapidly as alfalfa. Ideally, redclover should be grazed between first flower and20% bloom. However, in mixed pastures, grasseswould be beyond the ideal grazing stage at this time.Graze red clover as close to flowering as theaccompanying grass allows. If possible, allow theclover to flower once during the year.

Harvesting for hayFirst cutting for hay should be made when the

stand is between first flower and 20% bloom. Oneor two additional cuttings can be made at 5- to 7-week intervals. Allow 6 weeks for regrowth before akilling frost in fall. Red clover is difficult to dry forhay and should be used as haylage when possible.

VarietiesMany good varieties of red clover are available.

Look for varieties with resistance to anthracnose andpowdery mildew. Avoid seed labeled as common ormedium red clover. These are unlabelled varietieswhich may not be adapted to this region.

Sweet cloverSeeds/seedling, p. 14;vegetative characteristics, p. 19.

Sweet clover is a biennial plant usedmainly as a green manure or honey crop. It isnot widely used as a forage crop. There aretwo types common in Wisconsin, yellow(Melilotus officinalis Lam.) and white(Melilotus alba Medik.).

Growth habitAs a biennial, sweet clover grows vegeta-

tively the first year and forms a large taprootin fall. It flowers, produces seed and dies inthe second year of growth. It is an erect plantwith large, coarse stems which can reach 4 to5 feet. It is not well adapted to acidic soilsand requires a pH of at least 6.5. It is nottolerant of poor drainage, but its deep taprootmakes it drought tolerant. It has goodwinterhardiness. Yellow types are smaller andleafier but lower yielding than white andflower about 2 weeks earlier.

EstablishmentEstablishment practices for sweet clover

are similar to alfalfa. As sweet clover is

42 PASTURE LEGUMES

sensitive tosoil pH,lime shouldbe appliedwell aheadof planting.


ManagementSweet clover is a poor choice as a pasture

legume. It contains coumarin which gives it a bitterflavor and reduces palatability. It may also give milkan off flavor. Grazing sweet clover in the first yearreduces root size and production the following year.Regrowth following grazing comes from axillarybuds on the stem rather than crown buds as in thecase of alfalfa. Sweet clover should not be grazeduntil plants are 14 inches tall and a stubble of 10inches should be left to allow for regrowth

Harvesting for haySweet clover should be cut for hay in the early

bud to blossom stage of the second year. A stubbleof 8 to 12 inches should be left. Due to highmoisture content sweet clover may be hard to dryfor hay. This is particularly important as moldy haymay contain dicoumarol, a derivative of coumarin,which causes excessive bleeding in animals.

VarietiesMost varieties of sweet clover were developed

prior to the 1960s when it was widely used as agreen manure crop. More recently, low coumarintypes have been developed, including Norgold,Polara and Denta.

44 PASTURE LEGUMES

White cloverSeeds/seedling, p. 16;vegetative characteristics, p. 22.

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) iscommon throughout Wisconsin. It is found inlawns, athletic fields and waste areas, as well asin pastures. It is very shallow rooted and haslittle drought tolerance. It is best adapted toareas with cool temperatures and adequaterainfall. It tolerates a soil pH as low as 5.5. Ithas not been a major cultivated forage inWisconsin due to poor persistence and lowproductivity.

Growth habitWhite clover is a short-lived perennial

with prostrate growth habit. Leaves are borneon long petioles. There are no upright stems.Seedlings 6 to 8 weeks old begin formingstolons. These stolons spread and root atnodes along the stem. After 1 to 2 years theoriginal plant dies. White clover is lesswinterhardy than red clover and plants maydie without snow cover. It is a prolific seedproducer, however, and while individualplants are not persistent, stands may persistalmost indefinitely.

EstablishmentPure stands of white clover are rare. It is

included in many pasture mixes. It is verysmall seeded and should be seeded on thesurface or no deeper than 1/4 to 1/2 inch.Conventionally prepared seedbeds or killedsods are best for establishing white clover. It isnot a good candidate for frost or interseeding.


ManagementWhite clover is well adapted to close grazing.

Pastures should be grazed to about 2 inches andallowed to regrow to 8 to 10 inches. Close grazingallows light penetration to the low-growing cloverand allows for better reseeding. Grazed forage ofwhite clover is very high quality as animals grazemainly leaves, petioles and flowers and very fewstems. White clover should be seeded with grassesthat tolerate close grazing such as perennial ryegrassor Kentucky bluegrass.

Harvesting for hayDue its low, succulent growth, and relatively

low yields, white clover is rarely harvested as a hayor haylage crop.

VarietiesThree types of white clover are grown in

Wisconsin, wild white clover, white Dutch cloverand ladino clover. Wild white clover and whiteDutch clover are very prostrate, have small leavesand are low yielding. They are widespread in lawnsand continuously grazed pastures. Ladino whiteclover is larger and more productive. Recently, evenlarger, more robust white clover selections have been

introduced from Hollandand New Zealand. Theseselections are significantlymore productive andshow promise for use inWisconsin. Alice whiteclover is one of theseselections.

Spec

ies

Info

rmat

ion

Spec

ies

Gro

wth

Seed

ling

Dro

ught

Win

ter

Gra

zing

Seed

Seed

habit

vigor

tole

rance

hard

ines

sto

lera

nce

alo

ne

mix

ture

(lb/a

)(lb/a

)

Alfa

lfaup

right

GVG

GG

12–1

58

Alsi

ke c

love

rup

right

GG

GG

—3

Bird

sfoo

t tre

foil

uprig

htF

PVG

uprig

ht –

F8

6or

pro

strat

epr

ostra

te –

GC

row

n ve

tch

pros

trate

PG

PP

105

Hai

ry v

etch

pros

trate

GG

FF

25–3

518

–25

Kura

clo

ver

pros

trate

PVG

VGVG

106–

8Re

d cl

over

uprig

htVG

GG

G10

6–8

Swee

t clo

ver

uprig

htG

GG

F12

8W

hite

clo

ver

pros

trate

GG

GVG

—1–

2

Abb

revi

atio

ns: V

G =

ver

y go

od, G

= g

ood,

F =

fair,

P =

poo

r.

46 PASTURE LEGUMES

Authors: Dennis Cosgrove is professor of agronomy,University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Dan Undersander isprofessor of agronomy, College of Agricultural and LifeSciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both holdappointments with University of Wisconsin-Extension,Cooperative Extension.

©2003 by the Board of Regents of the University ofWisconsin System doing business as the division ofCooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Send inquiries about copyright permission to:Manager, Cooperative Extension Publications, 432 NorthLake St., Rm. 103, Madison, WI 53706.

Credits: Produced by the Publications Office,University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Ritch Ellingson,design & illustrations; Jens Gunelson, photographer.Additional photographs provided by: Ken Albrecht (kuraclover leaf, rhizome, flower and stand), Vivian Allen(yellow and white sweet clover stand), and Dick Smith(red clover stand).

University of Wisconsin-Extension, Coopera-tive Extension, in cooperation with the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture and Wisconsin counties, publishes thisinformation to further the May 8 and June 30, 1914 Actsof Congress; and provides equal opportunities andaffirmative action in employment and programming. Ifyou need this material in an alternative format, contactthe Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programsor call Cooperative Extension Publications at608-262-2655.

This publication is available from yourWisconsin county Extension office or from CooperativeExtension Publications. Call toll free 877-WIS-PUBS(947-7827) or order online at cecommerce.uwex.edu.

A3787 Identifying Pasture LegumesI-11-03-3M-600

Documents

Identifying Pasture Legumes (A3787) · Identifying pasture legumes Dennis Cosgrove and Dan Undersander egumes are an important component of Midwestern pastures. They increase yield