My sub clover pasture on deep sand dries off in October. Is there a clover that keeps growing later into summer?
Yes, we recommend Arrowleaf Clover for exactly this. It is a deep-rooted, late-maturing annual that uses subsoil moisture beyond the reach of sub clover, and it can extend green feed by roughly 4 to 8 weeks into summer. It is adapted to deep acid sands, needs 400mm+ rainfall and takes about 110 days to flower in Perth.
What clover handles acidic deep sands in the northern wheatbelt with around 400mm of rain?
Our Arrowleaf Clover is a good fit for acidic deep sands in 400mm+ country. It tolerates low pH (from about pH 5) and suits soils from sands through to heavier types. Its deep roots reach moisture shallow-rooted legumes miss, and it grows most actively in spring and early summer.
How much Arrowleaf clover seed should I sow per hectare?
We recommend sowing Arrowleaf Clover at 3 to 10 kg/ha, using the lower end when it goes into a mix. We suggest it as a mix component with sub clovers or annual medics rather than as a pure sward. Inoculate with Group C inoculant before sowing, as for most annual clovers.
I want to add a legume to my sub clover and medic mix that will stretch grazing into summer. What should I add?
We suggest adding Arrowleaf Clover to your sub clover or medic mix. Its role is to turn moisture beyond the sub clover's root zone, and late spring rain after sub clover has senesced, into a bulk of quality feed. It is late maturing, flowers around 110 days in Perth and is sown at 3 to 10 kg/ha.
Is Arrowleaf clover a bloat risk for cattle?
Arrowleaf Clover is described as non-bloating, which makes it a safer legume option for cattle and sheep. It produces high quality feed in late spring and early summer and is suitable for grazing, hay and silage. As with any legume-rich pasture, we still suggest introducing hungry stock gradually.
Why didn't my late clover come back well in its second year?
Poor second-year regeneration is common with hard-seeded clovers like our Arrowleaf Clover if the pasture isn't grazed after the sward hays off. Most of its seed is hard, and livestock eating the mature seed heads often improves regeneration in following years. We recommend grazing the stand once it has hayed off rather than leaving it ungrazed.
Can I cut a tall clover for hay or silage in late spring on my Great Southern farm?
Yes, Arrowleaf Clover suits hay and silage as well as grazing. It is an erect annual that commonly grows to about one metre, with strong stems that are not prone to lodging, so it cuts well. It produces high dry matter in late spring and early summer on 400mm+ rainfall.
Is there a clover that helps keep summer weeds down after spring?
Arrowleaf Clover is noted for suppressing summer weed species, thanks to its late, bulky growth into early summer. It is deep rooted, highly productive and adapted to deep acid sands. We recommend it as part of a mix with sub clovers or medics, sown at 3 to 10 kg/ha in 400mm+ rainfall areas.
Will a clover grow in a paddock that gets waterlogged or has some salt?
Arrowleaf Clover is not the right choice there, as it does not tolerate waterlogging or saline soils. For wet ground we would point you to Paradana Balansa Clover or Kyambro Persian Clover, and for mildly saline, waterlogged soils Strawberry Clover is worth considering. Talk to us about the conditions in your paddock.
Arrowleaf vs Crimson clover, which is better for late spring feed?
Both give strong late spring feed, but they differ. Our Arrowleaf Clover is hard seeded, deep rooted and suits deep acid sands from 400mm rainfall, flowering around 110 days. Crimson Clover is soft seeded, needs 500mm+ and does best on free-draining heavier soils and gravelly loams, flowering around 120 days.
