Dalkeith Subterranean Clover

We recommend Dalkeith Subterranean Clover. It is an early-flowering, very persistent sub clover for 325mm+ rainfall on moderately acidic, well-drained loams, with a minimum soil pH of 4.5 (CaCl2). It suits districts where the growing season extends to early October, tolerates hard grazing and seeds prolifically.

For our Dalkeith Subterranean Clover we recommend 6 to 20 kg/ha. Talk to us about where in that range to sit for a pure stand or a mix. Inoculate with Group C rhizobial inoculant before sowing. Dalkeith performs best with a pasture phase of at least two years and suits 325mm+ rainfall on moderately acidic, well-drained soils.

Dalkeith Subterranean Clover is a good choice for ewes. Its fresh leaves contain only a trace level of the oestrogenic compound formononetin, indicating a very low potential to cause ewe infertility or difficult lambing. It is also very tolerant of hard grazing and very persistent, which suits sheep systems in the wheatbelt.

Dalkeith Subterranean Clover is one of the more hard-seeded sub clovers, which helps it regenerate, but it is not hard-seeded enough for a reliable one-year crop, one-year pasture rotation. It performs best with a pasture phase of at least two years. For tighter rotations, consider our Urana Subterranean Clover or Izmir Subterranean Clover, which have more hard seed.

Dalkeith Subterranean Clover takes about 96 days to flower at Perth. That is nearly three weeks later than our Nungarin Subterranean Clover and Izmir Subterranean Clover, and almost two weeks earlier than Seaton Park Subterranean Clover. This early timing suits districts where the growing season extends to early October.

Dalkeith Subterranean Clover is susceptible to clover scorch, cercospora leaf spot and root rots, although these are generally not an issue in the low rainfall areas where it is most popular. It is also susceptible to redlegged earth mite, lucerne flea and blue-green aphids, so monitor seedlings closely after the break.

We suggest mixing Dalkeith Subterranean Clover with Urana Subterranean Clover in wetter areas, or with Izmir Subterranean Clover or Nungarin Subterranean Clover in drier zones. It also combines well with Casbah Biserrula, serradellas such as Margurita French Serradella and Santorini Yellow Serradella, burr medics, and aerial-seeding clovers such as Bartolo Bladder Clover. Mixing species spreads risk across seasons and soils.

Yes, Dalkeith Subterranean Clover is very tolerant of hard grazing and very persistent. It is an early-flowering, semi-erect sub clover with excellent early vigour, and it seeds prolifically with a high percentage of hard seed. This makes it a reliable choice for heavily grazed sheep paddocks on well-drained, moderately acidic soils.

Please talk to us about the Dalkeith Subterranean Clover seed lines we currently have. We list it under two stock lines and can explain the difference for your situation. Whichever line you choose, we recommend 6 to 20 kg/ha, inoculated with Group C rhizobial inoculant before sowing, on moderately acidic, well-drained soils with 325mm+ rainfall.

Choose Dalkeith Subterranean Clover for lower rainfall, moderately acidic, well-drained soils and for more hard seed. Choose Seaton Park Subterranean Clover for higher rainfall and neutral to alkaline soils, as it flowers later and has better disease resistance than Dalkeith. Dalkeith flowers at about 96 days at Perth, earlier than Seaton Park.