Kura clover forage yield, forage quality, and stand dynamics

Abstract

Persistent legumes are needed for livestock production in the northern U.S.A. and Canada. We compared forage yield, forage quality and stands of kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.), a rhizomatous perennial legume, with commonly grown forage legumes. Kura clover had lower initial stands and yields than most other legumes, but was ultimately among the highest yielding legumes and had greater stand persistence and higher forage digestibility than other legumes when subjected to a diversity of cutting schedules. Key words: Kura clover, forage yield, cutting schedules, persistence