Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Characteristics

• Yield based on 2 harvests/season
• Seeds/pound: 275,000
• Seeding rate: 6-8 lbs pure live seed/acre
• Seeding date: frost seed, early spring, or late summer before August 15
• Two to three harvests per season possible
• Use in pasture mixtures, with rotational grazing
• Persistent if allowed to reseed

Advantages

• good quality possible
• well adapted to acid or variable drained soils
• easy and fast to establish
• good first year yields

Concerns

• generally does not persist after 2 growing seasons
• lower yielding than alfalfa
• can cause bloat

More information

• Forage Fact Sheet (PA)
• USDA Plant Fact Sheet
• USDA Plant Guide
• Cover Crop in MI