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The role of cloverBenefits

Requirements

Management

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Why Clover?

• Absorbs N from the atmosphere

• Fixes up to 150 kg N/ha

• Reduces demand for artificial N

• New rule for derogation farms when

reseeding

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Nitrogen Fixation

• Rhizobia bacteria live in nodules on clover roots

• Convert nitrogen from the air to nitrates

• Reddish-pink interior indicates N fixation is occuring

• Nitrates stored in the nodules

• As roots decay nitrates are released to companion plants

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Animal performance benefits

Grass + Clover150 N

Grass Only250 N

Significance

Total Yield (kg DM/ha) 13039 13288 NS

Milk yield (Kg/cow) 6166 5984 0.06

MS Yield (kg/cow) 499 464 0.05

Silage fed (kg DM/cow) 664 571 0.05

Egan et al., 2018

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Effect of N fertiliser DM yield

Source: Enriquez-Hidalgo et al., 2018

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0 60 120 196 250

Her

bag

e R

emo

ved

(kg

DM

/ha)

N application rate (Kg N/ha)

Grass Only

3.5t DM/ha

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Effect of Clover on DM yield

Source: Enriquez-Hidalgo et al., 2018

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0 60 120 196 250

Her

bag

e R

emo

ved

(kg

DM

/ha)

N application rate (Kg N/ha)

Grass Only Grass Clover

3.5t DM/ha

1.1 t DM/ha

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New requirements for derogation farms

1. Minimum 1.5 kg/ha (0.6 kg/acre)

2. White (grazing) or red (cutting) or both

3. Can sow grass, apply weed control and

oversow clover subsequently

(within reasonable time frame)

4. Must keep all labels

1st January 2020

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• Phosphorus – helps root development

• Rhizobium inoculant – quicker nodulation to fix N sooner

• Increases size of seed

• Better placement in seed bed

• More even spreading

• Heavier seed –better soil/seed contact

• 0.6 kg naked seed is 1 kg pelleted

Coated white clover

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Management

• Soil temperature >8 C

• Sunlight

• Fertile Soils - pH >6.3 & P & K index 3

• Sow April/ May

• Good grassland management

• Graze to 4 cm

• 1200 – 1500 kg DM/ha HM

• Clover safe herbicides

• 25-30% clover is optimum in

established sward

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Weed control – post sowing

ProductClover Safe

Withdrawal to sowing clover

Restrictions

CloverMax Yes Use by 31st October 2021

Legumex DB Yes Use by 31st October 2021

UnderSown Yes Use by 31st October 2021

Envy No3 months after

application

Pastor Trio No3 months after

application

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Oversowing• Weed control prior to sowing – adhere to

withdrawal periods

• After silage cut or tight grazing

• Soil visibility

• Sow 2.5 kg coated clover/acre

• Spread with P:K product (0 N)

• Mix clover with fertiliser in the field

• Apply watery slurry

• Skip N for 2 rounds

• Graze frequently

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Issues with white clover

• Poor growth in spring

• Dominating swards & smothering grass

• avoid silage cutting

• use small/small-medium leaf varieties

• tactical application of N to enhance grass growth

• Inconsistency from field to field

• Bloat

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Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

• High yield, high protein silage

• Tap root

• Fertile soil

• 3-5 year persistency

• Grazing tolerance is a focus of breeding (IBERS)

• AberChianti, AberClaret

• Yield 12-14 t DM/ha

• Sow 4 kg/acre with 12 kg grass

• Cut above 7cm

• Light grazing in backend

• Avoid damage to crown

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Clover Fix from Germinal

White Clover

• 5 kg Coated White Clover

• 5 acres for derogation farms

• Grazing swards

Red Clover

• 5 kg Red Clover

• 8 acres for derogation farms

• Silage swards

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Looking forward

• No loss in grass DM yield

• Benefit to animal performance

• Environmental, economic benefit

• Reduced use of N & associated losses

• Reduced GHG emissions

• Public perception

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Thank you.

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