FORAGES AT KCA
Role & Importance
of
Clovers in Kentucky
Presented by
University of Kentucky
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association
Kentucky Forage & Grassland Council
Friday, January 15, 2010
Lexington Convention Center
Lexington, Kentucky
Special Publication – KFGC 2010-1
Garry D. Lacefield and Christi Forsythe, Editors
F O R E W O R D
This marks the fifteenth consecutive year we have had a Forage
Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention. We challenge you to
consider the content of the proceedings and the discussions of the day in light of
your overall beef-forage program. It is our hope you will go away with at least
one idea or practice that you can implement to improve your overall forageanimal program.
On behalf of the program committee, I want to thank Mr. Dave Maples and
all the fine folks at KCA for their support, assistance and encouragement. In
addition, I want to thank the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council for their
continued support of Forages in Kentucky. My thanks to Don Ball, Ray Smith,
and Don Sorrell for their presentations and papers for the proceedings.
Special THANKS are extended to Mrs. Christi Forsythe for her extra effort
in program planning and in preparing and editing the proceedings.
I would also like to express appreciation to Mr. John McCulley and all
members of the Oregon Clover Commission for support of this Conference.
Let me close by extending a special invitation to attend the 30th Kentucky
Alfalfa Conference at the Cave City Convention Center on February 25. For
more information on forages and forage-related events, see our website at
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
Garry D. Lacefield
Program Chairman
T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S
PAGE
WHY GROW CLOVERS?
Don Ball
1
ESTIMATING CLOVERS IN PASTURES
Ray Smith
6
ESTABLISHING CLOVERS IN PASTURES & HAY FIELDS
Garry Lacefield
10
ROLE OF CLOVERS “DOWN ON THE FARM”
Don Sorrell
14
WHY GROW CLOVERS?
Don Ball
Extension Forage Crop Agronomist, Auburn University
and
Garry Lacefield
Extension Forage Crop Agronomist, University of Kentucky
Clovers have long been viewed as being special and beneficial pasture
plants, but recently the incentives livestock producers have to grow them have
further increased. Why are many people more interested than ever in growing
clovers in pastures as companion species with grasses? Here are several
reasons that collectively make a compelling case.
Lower Nitrogen Fertilizer Costs
Increased cost of nitrogen fertilizer in recent years is probably the number
one factor that has resulted in more interest in clovers. Like most legumes,
clovers have the ability to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix” it in
nodules on the roots in cooperation with a special type of bacteria. This
plant/bacteria relationship is truly unique. In addition to the nitrogen that is fixed
being available to the clover, some of it ultimately becomes available to grass
plants growing in association with the clover.
The amount of nitrogen fixed varies depending on species, stand density,
fertility, weather, and the extent to which the clover has been defoliated.
However, numerous studies have shown that nitrogen fixation/acre/year by a
stand of annual clover(s), white clover, and red clover often is within the range of
60 to 150, 100 to 150, and 150 to 200, respectively. The cost of nitrogen fertilizer
has varied considerably during recent years, but (as an example) if nitrogen
costs $0.55 per pound, fixation of even 100 pounds per acre per year obviously
represents a value of $55 per acre per year.
Better Forage Quality
The forage quality of legumes, including clovers, is generally higher than
that of most forage grasses. Legumes are usually higher in crude protein,
digestibility, and many minerals and vitamins. They also are digested more
rapidly than grasses and tend to stimulate increased intake. The result is better
performance of grazing animals in terms of higher gains and higher reproductive
rates.
1
Better Distribution of Forage Growth
The introduction of clovers into grass pastures often extends the grazing
season as compared to grass alone. Red clover is especially likely to provide
additional summer production when grown with cool season perennial grasses.
Overseeding a cool season annual legume on a warm season perennial grass
pasture such as bermudagrass or on a warm season annual grass pasture such
as crabgrass permits production of quality feed during winter and early spring
when such pastures would otherwise be unproductive. Also, several species of
clovers can extend the grazing season when planted on a prepared seedbed with
annual grasses.
Increased Forage Yield
The total yield of forage per acre from a grass/legume mixture is usually
increased over that provided by grass alone. For example, in studies conducted
over many years in Kentucky, red clover grown with tall fescue produced more
total yield than tall fescue fertilized with 180 pounds of nitrogen per acre. A
clover/grass mixture is especially likely to increase dry matter yield as compared
to grass alone that receives little or no nitrogen fertilizer.
Reduced Risk
Legumes complement grasses in many ways, and having a mixed sward
of grass and clovers constitutes a lower risk situation than having a pure grass
sward. For example, many pests attack only certain plant species, and therefore
a disease or insect pest is less likely to devastate a mixed forage stand than a
pure stand of a single forage species.
Benefits in Crop Rotation Systems
In addition to furnishing nitrogen for succeeding crops, clovers tend to
improve soil characteristics by enhancing soil tilth. They also may create root
channels that benefit subsequent crops grown in rotation with clovers or
clover/grass mixtures.
Reduction of Animal Disorders
Clovers can play an important role in offsetting various livestock disorders
caused by forage grasses. In a recent survey in southern states, “growing
legumes with tall fescue” was found to be the number one strategy used by beef
cow-calf producers to increase performance of animals suffering from fescue
toxicity as a result of grazing toxic-endophyte tall fescue. Furthermore, the
likelihood of grass tetany is reduced by the presence of clovers in animals’ diets
2
because the underlying cause of this disorder is magnesium deficiency in
animals, and clovers contain higher levels of magnesium than grasses.
Environmental Acceptability
Because of their symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria,
clovers and other legumes provide homegrown slow-release nitrogen, which is
more environmentally friendly than commercial nitrogen. They furnish pollen and
nectar for honeybees, and tend to increase populations of beneficial predatory
insects. Clovers also provide food for wildlife including deer, rabbits, and game
birds.
More Interesting and Attractive Pastures
Clovers are more colorful and attractive than grasses, especially when
blooming. They make pastures more attractive to humans and, given their
palatability, to grazing animals as well.
Increased Profit Potential
The use of clovers can have an enormous positive impact on the
economics of raising grazing animals. Nutrition is generally recognized as the
primary limiting factor on most livestock farms, and legumes usually provide
higher nutrition levels than grasses. Better nutrition means more milk production,
higher weaning weights, and increased likelihood of high reproductive efficiency.
These factors obviously have a favorable impact on gross income.
Clovers also help reduce or eliminate the requirement to apply nitrogen
fertilizer, which typically accounts for 20 to 40% of the cost of producing forage
from grasses. Clover seed usually costs $15 to $25 per acre. Other costs
associated with establishing clovers depend on the site, situation, and method of
seeding, but are typically less than the seed costs. Often the value of nitrogen
fixed by clovers during the first year will alone more than offset the cost of clover
establishment.
Dramatic evidence of the economic importance of use of clovers and other
legumes was provided by a recent review of the results of stocker cattle grazing
experiments in Alabama. In the interest of providing a way to get a clearer view
of the performance of stocker cattle on forages, performance criteria for stocker
steers grazing 37 different pasture treatments used in Auburn University stocker
cattle grazing studies were summarized from various research reports and
articles. Subsequently, Auburn University 2008 budget estimates for the various
forage species or species mixtures involved in these studies were used to
determine both the approximate pasture costs/acre and the pasture costs/lb of
gain.
3
The results were striking! Even though only 15 of the 37 pasture
treatments involved legumes, the seven lowest total pasture costs/lb of gain, and
eight of the ten lowest total pasture costs/lb of gain involved legumes. The
reasons why the calculated pasture costs/pound of gain were generally low were
some combination of the following: (1) lower nitrogen fertilizer costs; (2) better
animal performance; and (3) a longer grazing season.
Conclusion
The use of clovers in forage programs has numerous potential
economically important benefits. When clovers are present, animal
performance typically goes up while expenses go down. Clovers are truly
sustainable plants. Research results, farmer experience and many
demonstrations have clearly shown clovers to be agronomically sound,
environmentally friendly, and economically advantageous when the
following criteria have been met.
Match The Clover To The Situation- There may be more than one clover
species adapted to be grown in a given field or situation (with white clover and
red clover being by far the most widely suitable in Kentucky), but distribution of
growth, heading date, tolerance to a particular defoliation regime, reseeding
ability, or other factors may make one clover species a much better choice than
others.
Selection Of A Good Variety- Variety trials have repeatedly shown that
some varieties are better choices than others. Some varieties may be superior to
others in terms of forage yield, distribution of growth, winter-hardiness, forage
quality, or any of several other important characteristics.
Use Of High Quality Seed- Use of high quality seed is a key to
successful establishment of any crop, including clovers. Use of high quality seed
does not ensure success, but use of poor quality seed often ensures failure.
Assurance that the germination level is high, that seed is of the species and
variety it is supposed to be, that there are low levels of other crop seed present,
that there are no noxious weed seed present, and that there are not high levels
of inert matter mixed with the seed are among the characteristics that should be
provided on seed tags.
Plant In A Suitable Area- Because clovers have soil and climatic
requirements that differ from grasses and even other clovers, it is essential to
plant them in areas where such requirements will be met. It usually is necessary
to amend the soil with lime and fertilizer to provide a good growth environment.
Soil testing is the only way to know how much lime and fertilizer may need to be
applied.
4
Use An Appropriate Planting Technique- Attention to detail during
planting is critically important. Following recommendations for a given clover
regarding factors such as seedbed preparation, planting date, seeding rate and
depth, and control of competing species helps ensure establishment success.
Proper Management- Once a stand has been established, management
in accordance with the needs of the particular clover to be grown is required to
reap the potential benefits it can provide. In mixed stands with grasses,
management should favor the clover.
Selected References
Ball, D.M., C.S. Hoveland, and G.D. Lacefield, 2007. Southern Forages, 4th
Edition.
Potash & Phosphate Institute and Foundation for Agronomic Research.
Norcross, Georgia.
Taylor, N.L. (ed.), 1985. Clover Science And Technology. American Society of
Agronomy Monograph No. 25, Madison, Wisconsin.
Ball, D.M., and J. Walter Prevatt, 2009. Stocker Cattle Performance And
Calculated Pasture Costs. Ala. Coop Ext. System Publication ANR 1348.
5
ESTIMATING CLOVER PERCENTAGE IN YOUR PASTURE
S. Ray Smith
Extension Forage Specialist
University of Kentucky
You often hear Extension Agents and Extension Specialists talk about
how important it is to add clover to your grass pastures. We talk about the
advantage of free nitrogen, the added forage quality and yield, the benefit of
diluting the toxic effects of tall fescue, and many other benefits. Usually after I
give a presentation promoting all the benefits of clover the first question from the
audience is, “How much clover do I need?” My standard answer is that 30 to 40%
clover provides many of these benefits without compromising grass productivity.
In fact, 30 to 40% clover in a pasture goes a long way in promoting grass growth.
The next question from the audience is, “How do I know how much clover I
have?” I usually say that you just visually estimate the amount of clover in your
pasture in comparison to the amount of grass and weeds, but you and I both
know that this is easier said than done. The presentation today is designed to
teach you how to visually estimate the percentage of clover in your pastures.
Ed Rayburn (West Virginia University) and Jim Green (North Carolina
State) have worked for a number of years on determining clover percentage in
pastures based on visual estimation and then clipping the pasture and hand
separating the percentage of clover, grass, and weeds in each sample. They
have recently developed a decision aid to help producers learn how to estimate
the percentage of clover in their pastures. This decision aid can be found on the
UK Forage Website (www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage) by clicking on “Forage Decision
Aids. Once you open the program you will move through a series of explanation
slides and then a series of picture slides showing a range of clover/grass/weed
percentages. Using these slides you can get a “feel” for how to estimate the
clover percentage in your pasture. The percentage of species listed on each slide
were based on clipping the area to approximately 2 inches in height and then
carefully separating out clover, grass, and weed plants, drying them, and then
weighing them. Also listed on each slide is total forage dry matter yield above the
2 inch clipping height. This can be helpful in determining the appropriate stocking
rate for your pasture.
When applying what you have practiced from these slides in your pasture,
it is important that your pasture is similar to the pastures used to make these
slides. In other words, for these estimations to be valid for your pasture make
sure:
6
•
Your pasture height is about 6 to 10 inches tall.
•
The clovers in your pasture are primarily the “large leaved” ladino white
clovers and/or red clover.
•
The grasses in your pasture are cool season types like tall fescue,
orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.
If your pasture mainly contains the small leaved Dutch or Common white
clovers then visual estimations tend to overestimate the actual amount of clover
in your pasture on a dryweight basis. If your pasture is shorter than 6 inches tall,
visual estimations also tend to overestimate clover percentage.
The following pictures are actual slides taken from the Decision Aid. Go to
the website listed above to view the entire program. Next spring, take time to
walk your pastures, estimate the clover percentage, and practice applying what
you’ve learned.
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8
9
ESTABLISHING CLOVERS IN PASTURE AND HAY
FIELDS
Garry D. Lacefield
Extension Forage Specialist
University of Kentucky
Pasture renovation means to renew and improve. In Kentucky, this
usually means adding lime and fertilizer, controlling weeds and insects and
planting a legume such as red clover and/or white clover. The primary benefits
come as a result of getting legumes established in grass-dominated fields.
Following these six important steps when renovating grass fields with
legumes will increase your success:
Step 1.
Have the soil tested and apply the needed lime and fertilizer.
Legumes need a higher soil pH and fertility level than grasses.
However, DO NOT use nitrogen. Added nitrogen stimulates
grasses which increases competition with the legumes.
Step 2.
Reduce the vegetative cover on the soil. This is best done by
heavy grazing in late fall and early winter. Removing the excess
grass cover will make it easier to get the legume seed in contact
with the soil.
Step 3.
Select the legumes to be used. This will depend on the soil and the
planned use of the forage. For hay, alfalfa or red clover is usually
best. For both hay and grazing, a combination of red clover and
ladino clover works well. Ladino, red clover and/or annual
lespedeza work well in pastures.
Step 4.
Use the right kind and amount of seed. Select varieties that
perform well in your area. See U.K. Forage Variety Test Results on
the U.K. Forage Website at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage. Table 1
provides some seeding rate guidelines. Also be sure to use the
right kind of high quality inoculants mixed with the seed just before
planting, if not pre-inoculated.
10
Table 1. Legume Seeding Rates for Renovating Grass
Fields
Mixture
Seeding Rates*
Number
Legume(s)
lb/acre
1
White Clover
1–3
2
Red Clover
6 – 12
3
Annual Lespedeza
15 – 25
4
Alfalfa
12 – 20
5
White Clover and
1–2
Red Clover
4–6
6
Alfalfa and
8 – 10
Ladino Clover
½-1
7
Birdsfoot Trefoil
6–8
*If seeding is done at the proper time and under good conditions, the lower
rates can be used. The higher rates may be needed for broadcast
seedings or when conditions are not the best.
Step 5.
Plant the seed so that it makes good contact with the soil. There
are several ways to do this. Many farmers have had good success
by using a disk, field cultivator or field tiller to disturb 40 to 60% of
the sod for planting clovers. For alfalfa seeding, almost all of the
sod should be torn up (loosened from the soil). Tillage helps
control the grass growth and exposes the soil so the legumes have
a better chance to germinate and grow. Broadcast the seed and
pack the soil with a corrugated roller.
A better method is to use a no-till renovation seeder. These do a
good job of placing the seed in the soil, but they don’t reduce the
competition from the grass.
A simple, but effective method is to broadcast the legume seed on
the soil surface in late winter. As the soil freezes and thaws, the
seeds become covered. This method does not work well with
alfalfa.
Herbicides can be used to kill or suppress some of the grass and
help control competition. Follow the label directions for rates and
grazing restrictions when herbicides are used.
11
Step 6.
Control grass and weed competition. This step is one of the most
critical ones. Many attempts at renovation have failed simply
because the grass was allowed to grow and reduce the light,
nutrients and water available to the young legume plants. The
grass must be kept short by grazing or mowing until the new
legume plants are 3 to 4 inches tall. Stop grazing if the animals
begin biting off the young legume leaves. Grazing and mowing
should be stopped for several weeks to allow the legumes to
become well established. After this, the field should be mowed or
grazed on a schedule that will help keep the particular legumes
used in good condition. A rotational grazing system helps keep
legumes in the stand longer and more efficiently use the pasture.
Managing Renovated Fields
Once legumes have been established in grass fields, maintaining them is
important. To do so, the following management factors will help get the most out
of your renovated pasture or hay field:
♦ Follow an annual fertility program based on soil test recommendations to be sure
phosphorus and potassium are available. Take a soil sample at least every third
year to be sure enough fertilizer is being used and to see if more lime is needed.
Again, to avoid too much competition from the grass, DO NOT use any nitrogen
as long as you want to keep legumes in the field.
♦ Mow pastures as needed to remove grass seed heads and control weeds and
woody vegetation.
♦ Harvest hay or manage grazing to favor the legume being used. Grass-clover
pastures may be grazed all season, but take care to avoid overgrazing. Leave 3
or 4 inches of top growth at all times. A good rotation plan helps (see
Cooperative Extension publication AGR-85). When annual lespedeza is used,
pastures should be grazed heavily in April and May to control the grass and give
the lespedeza a chance to get started. It should be given a rest then, until the
lespedeza is 6 to 8 inches tall before grazing again. Alfalfa-grass fields can be
grazed successfully, but a good rotation system must be used. A good plan is to
use enough livestock to graze it down in 5 to 7 days. Then give it 4 or 6 weeks to
re-grow before repeating the cycle.
12
Summary
Forage legumes offer many benefits when renovated into grass pasture
and hay fields including increased yield, improved quality, nitrogen fixation and
extended grazing. The above management suggestions do not guarantee
success but when followed can certainly increase your chances of getting and
efficiently using your renovated fields.
13
ROLE OF CLOVER “DOWN ON THE FARM”
Don Sorrell
Campbell County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural
Resources
Highland Heights, KY
In an effort to evaluate the Role of Clover ”Down on the Farm”, a survey
was developed and then e-mailed to Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension Agents in Kentucky. Agents were asked to complete the survey based
on their estimate of use and importance of clover in their particular county. Thirtytwo (32) surveys were returned. The following is a summary of those returned
surveys.
The first five questions deal with percentages. The percentages of
each question were totaled and then divided by the number of returned
surveys to get an average percentage for each question.
What % of farmers in your county seed clover as a hay crop?
34%
What % of farmers in your county seed clover in their pasture
fields?
42%
What % of hay fields in your county are seeded with clover?
47%
What % of pasture fields in your county are seeded with clover?
53%
What % of clover in your county is seeded by:
frost seeding 46%
no-till
32%
conventional 22%
14
For the next six questions, Agents were asked to list their answers in
order of importance. The (#) after each answer indicates the number of
surveys/agents listing this as their number one or number two answer.
What are the benefits of seeding clover as a hay crop?
1.
Improved Quality (26)
2.
Nitrogen Fixation/Reduces Nitrogen Fertilizer (15)
3.
Improved Yield (7)
4.
Animal Performance (3)
What are the benefits of seeding clover into pasture fields?
1.
Improved Quality (25)
2.
Nitrogen Fixation/Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer (14)
3.
Reduce the Negative Impact of Endophyte Fescue (10)
4.
Yield (8)
5.
Improve Animal Performance (4)
What are the benefits of seeding certified clover seed versus common
clover seed?
1.
Stand Longevity (23)
2.
Improved Yield (14)
3.
Improved Germination (6)
4.
Forage Quality (5)
5.
Disease Resistance (2)
Why aren’t more farmers seeding clover as a hay or pasture forage?
1.
Costs (22)
2.
Requires More Management (18)
3.
Stand Persistence (9)
4.
Weather (drought, too wet etc.) (5)
5.
Lack of Knowledge about Benefits (4)
What are the challenges of growing clover in your area?
1.
Lack of Management (15)
2.
Soil pH and fertility Issues (11)
3.
Weather (8)
4.
Lack of Herbicide Options/Weed Issues (3)
5.
Topography (2)
15
What improvements in new clover varieties would most benefit farmers?
1.
Stand Persistence (21)
2.
Herbicide Options/Roundup Ready (7)
3.
Disease Resistance (3)
4.
Improved Yield Potential (3)
5.
Health Issues (bloat, slobbering of horses) (2)
16
th
30
Kentucky Alfalfa
Conference
Cave City
Convention Center
February 25, 2010
See website www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
for program and more information