Dalkeith | Subterranean Clover

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a type of clover that is well-adapted to low-growing conditions, making it suitable for pasture and forage purposes. It is known for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through its association with nitrogenfixing bacteria, which can enhance soil fertility.

Common utilizations of subterranean clover include:
1. Pasture and Forage: Subterranean clover is often used in pasture mixes for livestock grazing. It provides a nutritious forage option for animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The nitrogen-fixing capabilities of subterranean clover can also contribute to improved soil fertility in pastures.

2. Cover Cropping: Farmers often use subterranean clover as a cover crop to improve soil health during fallow periods. As a cover crop, it helps prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter to the soil. The nitrogen fixing ability of subterranean clover can benefit subsequent crops by making more nitrogen available in the soil.

3. Green Manure: Subterranean clover can be ploughed into the soil as green manure. This practice contributes organic matter to the soil, improves soil structure, and releases nutrients as the clover decomposes.

Key features
• Dependent on seed for the following years growth
• Very drought tolerant
• Shallow rooted so cannot utilise deeper soil moisture
• Susceptible to red-legged earth mite and lucerne flea
• Poorly tolerant of water logging
• Highly productive in spring but no summer production
• Not suited for spring seeding

Dalkeith belongs to the Trifolium subterranean ssp. family and demonstrates a prostrate to semi-erect growth habit. It persists well on various soil types and has early maturity, requiring a minimum growing season of four months. It has a high hard seed level, which in combination with its early maturity, makes it well suited to low rainfall cropping rotations.
Dalkeith has taken up well in the 350 to 600 mm rainfall zones. It will be able to provide good early herbage production in low rainfall zones. Care must be taken with new sown pastures so as not to overgraze too early, as plants can be pulled from the ground.