What perennial clover can I plant on a salty, waterlogged paddock?
We recommend Strawberry Clover. It is a perennial clover suited to waterlogged areas and tolerant of mild salinity. It prefers neutral to alkaline soils (about pH 6 to 8) on loam to heavy soils and is persistent under heavy grazing.
How much Strawberry clover seed should I sow?
We recommend 1 to 2 kg/ha of scarified Strawberry Clover seed as a monoculture, or 0.25 to 0.5 kg/ha in a mix. Inoculate with Group B inoculant before sowing. It suits loam to heavy soils and is usually sown with perennial or salt-tolerant grasses such as Puccinellia, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass or Amplify Phalaris.
What legume can I sow with Puccinellia or tall wheat grass on saltland?
Strawberry Clover is a good companion for Puccinellia, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass, phalaris, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. From our range we stock Puccinellia, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass and Amplify Phalaris. Adding the clover lifts feed quality and nitrogen on mildly saline, wet ground, and it suits loam to heavy soils in 450mm+ rainfall areas.
Is there a clover that keeps growing through summer on wet ground?
Strawberry Clover is more productive in spring and summer than in winter. It is a deep-rooted perennial that tolerates drought, waterlogging and mild salinity. It flowers around 140 days after sowing in Perth and gives highly palatable, high protein feed.
Is Strawberry clover safe for breeding stock?
Yes, Strawberry Clover is free of oestrogen risks, with low isoflavone content and no risk to breeding livestock. It is highly nutritive, with high protein and digestibility. However, it may cause bloat in cattle, so introduce them gradually and sow it with grasses.
How should I graze a perennial clover on a saline flat?
Strawberry Clover tolerates heavy grazing pressure and is persistent, but it does best under rotational grazing that allows recovery between grazings. Watch cattle for bloat on lush growth. Its peak production is spring and summer. Good companions include Puccinellia, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass and phalaris.
Will clover grow on alkaline soil?
Yes. We recommend Strawberry Clover, which performs best on neutral to alkaline loam to heavy soils, around pH 6 to 8, and suits wet ground in 450mm+ rainfall areas. For drier areas, Bartolo Bladder Clover suits mildly acid to alkaline sandy loams with pH 5 to 8 in 350mm+ rainfall.
What rainfall does Strawberry clover need?
We recommend Strawberry Clover for areas with 450mm or more rainfall, or for naturally wet sites, as it is suited to waterlogged areas. It is deep rooted and drought resistant once established, and performs best on neutral to alkaline loam to heavy soils with a pH of 6 to 8.
How long will a Strawberry clover pasture last?
Strawberry Clover is a perennial, so it persists for years under good management, and it tolerates heavy grazing. It is also hard seeded and aerial seeding, which helps the stand thicken up. Rotational grazing with recovery periods helps keep it productive.
Is there a perennial legume for a wet, salty paddock that isn't lucerne?
Yes. Strawberry Clover is a better fit than lucerne for wet, mildly saline ground, as it is a persistent perennial that tolerates waterlogging and mild salinity. Lucerne such as our L91 Lucerne prefers deep, well-drained soils and is intolerant of periods of waterlogging. Haifa White Clover, which tolerates waterlogging, is another perennial option in higher rainfall areas or under irrigation.
