Contributions of Overseeded Clovers to Bermudagrass Pastures in Several Environments

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], a base forage in southeastern United States livestock production, often fails to meet nutrient requirements of some classes of livestock. Contributions of arrowleaf ( Trifolium vesiculosum Savi), ball ( Trifolium nigrescens Viv.), berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), crimson ( Trifolium incarnatum L.), red ( Trifolium pratense L.), and white ( Trifolium repens L.) clovers to overseeded bermudagrass swards were compared with monoculture bermudagrass receiving 0, 112, or 225 kg ha −1 of N fertilizer on a range of sites. Berseem and crimson clovers produced up to 2.2 Mg ha −1 in March and early April, with berseem particularly reliable on fertile silt loam soils. Red clover was about 3 wk later with growth continuing until July most dependably at the more northern of the loam‐soil locations. Intermediate white clover, although not managed optimally for the species, was a productive late clover only at the southern location. All clovers overseeded on Darley fine sand were unsuccessful both years. Variable responses among clover species and sites from overseeded bermudagrass indicate that this clover production approach is very site specific in the lower southeastern United States.