As seen in Farm Weekly, 14/03/2013

Izmir sub clover is seen as a direct replacement for Nungarin in areas receiving less than 375mm annual rainfall.

It is as early flowering as Nungarin but has greater seed hardness, which should result in greater persistence in cropping rotations.

Seed softening also occurs later in the summer-autumn period than Nungarin, giving it slightly greater protection from losses due to false breaks.

Izmir is well adapted to moderately acid soils across the northern and eastern zones of the agricultural area.

The main attributes of Izmir sub clover are:

  • Early flowering with increased autumn, winter and spring production compared to Nungarin
  • Relatively prostrate growth habit giving good tolerance to grazing
  • Low levels of formonotetin
  • Increased persistence compared to Nungarin
  • Some resistance to clover scorch

Limited testing suggests that Izmir has greater tolerance of acid soils than Nungarin, and the overall field performance of Izmir has been superior to Nungarin.

The advantage of its greater seed hardness was apparent following seasons where trial sites were either cropped or sprayed out to prevent seed set. Where this occurred, mean seedling density of Izmir was 34 per cent higher and seed production was 74pc higher than Nungarin.

Recommended sowing rates: Monoculture: 10kg/ha; Mix: 5 to 8kg/ha.

Urana for the 400mm plus zones

Urana is an early flowering sub clover that was bred by the Department of Agriculture and Food as a potential replacement for Dalkeith and other varieties with similar maturities.

It has higher levels of hard seed than Dalkeith, has trace levels of formonotetin (<0.05 per cent of dry matter), and slightly better seedling and adult plant resistance to red-legged earth mites than older cultivars.

Urana is suited to the 400mm plus rainfall areas of WA. It is indeterminate in its flowering and it can also be sown into the higher rainfall zones offering extended season growth with adequate moisture.

Urana can be sown on a wide range of soil types (the exception being deep sands), with a pH of 4.5 and above.

The main attributes of Urana sub clover are:

  • The most winter active sub clover we have seen, providing increased returns per ha
  • Flowers slightly later than Dalkeith but earlier than Seaton Park (103 days at Perth)
  • Has the capacity to produce greater total amounts of herbage than other cultivars
  • Has higher levels of hard seed than Dalkeith, which should enable it to persist well in cropping rotations
  • Suited to a pasture phase in between cropping rotations
  • Is susceptible to Race 1 clover scorch but is moderately resistant to Race 2

The key feature of Urana sub clover is its early flowering and ability to increase production over the important winter period.

Individual plants are very vigorous with a more upright growth habit than Dalkeith, producing larger leaves and more total dry matter than other early flowering cultivars.

Trials in WA have shown mean average herbage production increases ranging from 10 per cent in year one to 25pc in year two compared to Dalkeith.

Being slightly later flowering than Dalkeith, Urana will also provide longer season production where the growing season extends into October.

Recommended sowing rates: Monoculture: 10kg/ha; Mix: 5 to 8kg/ha.