Izmir Subterranean Clover

We recommend Izmir Sub Clover. It is seen as the direct replacement for Nungarin in lower rainfall parts of WA. It flowers early like Nungarin but has more hard seed, which gives better persistence in cropping rotations. It also produces more feed in autumn, winter and spring, and it suits moderately acid soils.

Izmir Sub Clover gives a little more protection from false breaks than Nungarin, because its hard seed softens later in the summer-autumn period. That means fewer seeds germinate on an early rain and then die. It is well adapted to moderately acid soils across the northern and eastern agricultural zones.

Izmir Sub Clover has high hard seed levels, so it regenerates well after a cropping year. In trials on sites that had been cropped or sprayed out, Izmir had 34% higher seedling density and 74% higher seed production than Nungarin. It is an early-flowering sub clover suited to moderately acid soils in lower rainfall areas.

Our tech sheets give different rates, so talk to us for your situation. As a guide, the figures range from 10 to 20 kg/ha for a pure stand and 6 to 10 kg/ha in a mix. Inoculate with Group C rhizobia before sowing, and sow into moist soil at the break.

Izmir is an early-flowering sub clover for the lower rainfall areas of WA and is recommended as the Nungarin replacement where rainfall is under 375mm. Our tech sheets list the minimum as 350mm+ in one version and 400mm+ in another, so check with us for your district. It needs a soil pH of 5 or higher.

Izmir Sub Clover has low levels of formononetin, so it has a low risk of oestrogen-related fertility problems in ewes. Its fairly prostrate growth habit also gives it good grazing tolerance. This combination makes it a good fit for sheep paddocks in lower rainfall, moderately acidic country.

We recommend Izmir Sub Clover for short-season country. It flowers early, at around 78 to 85 days, so it sets seed before the season finishes. It suits moderately acid soils in the northern and eastern agricultural zones, and it has more hard seed and better overall field performance than Nungarin.

Izmir Sub Clover has some resistance to clover scorch, which gives it an edge in seasons when the disease appears. It also has low formononetin levels. As with all sub clovers, monitor seedlings for redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea after the break, as early insect damage can hurt establishment.

Izmir Sub Clover suits moderately acid soils across the northern and eastern agricultural zones. Limited testing suggests it tolerates acid soils better than Nungarin. For very sandy, acidic soils, also consider our serradellas such as Margurita or Santorini, or Casbah Biserrula, which can be sown alongside it.

We suggest mixing Dalkeith with Izmir Sub Clover in drier zones. Izmir flowers earlier and has more hard seed, which adds security in short seasons and after cropping years. Dalkeith adds early vigour and tolerance to hard grazing. Inoculate both with Group C rhizobia and use lower mix rates for each.