Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Farm and Home

Research and farmer experience have shown that the addition of legumes to grasses can result in improvements such as higher yields, improved quality, nitrogen fixation and longer growing season.

The total yield of forage per acre is likely to be increased unless high levels of (N) fertilizer are used on grasses. This could be due partially to the grasses crowding the clovers and killing them out.

Also, by adding clovers to grass fields the forage quality is improved over a pasture which contains grass only. This results in increased palatability, intake, digestibility (TDN), nutrient content, and animal performance. Clovers are noted for their high mineral and protein content. Both are needed for good animal health.

Producers have learned that cattle give more milk, breed better, wean heavier calves, and are less likely to have grass tetany when they are kept on clover/grass than on pure grass pastures. Pure stands of clover may cause bloat. As a general rule, bloat is not likely to occur when 50% or more of the grazed material is grass.

Nitrogen fixation by clover is also a good reason to consider clover/grass mixtures. Legumes fix (N) can be used for growth by legumes and also by associated grasses.

Some examples of how much nitrogen can be fixed by certain legumes are as follows: alfalfa, 150 to 250 pounds per acre per year; red clover 75 to 200 pounds per acre per year and Ladino clover 75 to 150 pounds per acre per year.

Most cool season grass growth occurs during spring and autumn. In the upper south legumes, such as red clover, alfalfa or lespedeza, make more summer growth than cool season grasses. Therefore, growing grasses and legumes together can improve the seasonal distribution of a pasture and provide more summer growth.

There are eight main clover species that are grown in Arkansas. By far the most commonly grown clover in our state is white clover.

There are three main reasons for this. First, white clover is well adapted to our climate, soils and management practices; second, certain types of white clover reseed themselves and volunteer readily; and third, only a small amount of seed is needed making seed cost minimal for establishment at 2 to 3 pounds per acre compared to other clovers at 10 to 15 pounds per acre.

September and October are the preferred planting months for clover. White and Ladino clover may also be planted during the late winter. To help insure a stand of clover, lime should be applied six months before planting on fields where soil test results indicate lime is needed. Phosphorus and potash fertilizer applied at planting stimulates seedling growth.

For additional information concerning clover/grass benefits, establishment and/or management contact the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service at 887-2818.