Emily recently attended an event hosted by AHDB highlighting the benefits that including clover in your cropping can bring. Clover is a versatile and beneficial crop that plays a crucial role in sustainable agriculture. It improves soil health and fertility and reduces the need for inorganic fertilisers through its remarkable ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, contributing to a more environmentally friendly farming system.
Key Benefits of Clover For Farms
- Nitrogen fixing – 150 – 250kg N/ha per year
- SFI payment of £102/ha under NUM2: Legumes on improved grassland
- Red clover/ryegrass swards are capable of producing 10–14 t DM/ha per year
- Break crop - Red clover has considerable benefits as a break crop in mixed farming situations, thanks to its ability to improve soil structure and soil nitrogen status.
- Improves soil structure
- Higher protein levels of grazing and conserved forage
- Increases of up to 300 litres/cow and rises in milk solids
- Drought resistant
- Reduced use of inorganic fertilisers
Source: Adapted from ADAS and IBERS
How to manage Clover
Clover does need to be managed differently to an all-grass ley:
It’s best to have a stubble of 5 – 6cm going into the winter but be careful that stock does not bite out the crown of the plant.
A break of 5 – 7 years between growing in the same field.
Pre – grazing cover of 2,800 –2,900kg/DM/ha, be careful of bloat when turning out stock that are not use to clover leys. Early grazing will stimulate growth as clover will start growing at 10 degrees. Aim for a residual of 4cm as the light will promote stolon growth. Clover leys are generally very palatable to stock and have high D value.
Establishing clover top tips
- A clean, firm seedbed, ring-rolled prior to sowing
- Soil pH of 6.0–6.2. If ground conditions permit, apply lime 2–3 weeks before spring N application to fields destined for silage because it can take several months to increase pH throughout the topsoil
- Apply nitrogen fertiliser on soils with low nitrogen status, but only up to 50 kg N/ha
- Apply phosphate and potash if soil indices are below 2
- Optimum seed depth is 5–10 mm, sow into warm soil from April to late July
- For monoculture swards, use 15 kg/ha of seed (6 kg/acre)
- For mixed swards, use 7 kg/ha (3 kg/acre) of red clover and 22 kg/ha (9 kg/acre) of grass
If you would any advise or assistance on introducing Clover within your cropping rotation please contact our UK farm consultants here in Wiltshire at Douglas Green Consulting.
