Clover & Legumes

sub clover

Pasture legumes are a cornerstone of most pasture systems and many cropping programs. This group of species includes perennial plants such as white, red and
strawberry clover, and annual or short-lived species such as sub-clovers, aerial-seeded annual clovers, vetches and lucerne. 

Temperate Pasture Legumes

Legumes are typically used in combination with grass and other species as part of a long-term pasture or a specialty forage, to provide nitrogen fixation, improved pasture feed quality and diversity of species for resilience. In some cases, clovers, vetches and lucerne may be used as a specialty standalone crop for specific outcomes such as high-quality fodder, a break crop or simply as the best way to utilise a particular site.

Species and variety selection are important, and sowing rates will vary depending on the situation. Sowing legumes with the correct grasses is a further vital
consideration. Often a mixture of two or three pasture legumes will offer the best outcome. AgriCOTE treated seed contains the correct rhizobium strain as well as important trace elements and vital seedling protection. 

For sowing a pure stand of legume, typically multiply sowing rates described here by 2 – 3 times.

Tropical Pasture Legumes

Tropical Legumes are an important inclusion in any tropical pasture improvement program. Tropical legumes naturally have higher heat and drought tolerance, which allows for better persistence in tougher northern environments. 

Legumes are typically used in combination with grass and other species as part of a long-term pasture or a specialty forage, in some cases tropical legumes may be used as a specialty standalone crop for specific outcomes such as high-quality fodder, a break crop or simply as the best way to utilise a particular site.

Tropical legumes can have the largest increase on a pastures productivity, allowing for the following benefits:

  • Increased nutritional benefits (protein & digestibility)
  • Increase in soil health and fertility, fixation of nitrogen lifting pasture overall productivity
  • Economical & environmental benefits, of quicker turn off times and reduced GHG emissions

Aside from feed quality, adding legumes to diversify your pasture also has many soil health, fertility and environmental benefits. Some tropical legumes have been found to contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane through the natural compounds the plants contain.

New Tropical legumes are bred and selected for a range of productivity gains which include:

  • Tolerance to problem diseases
  • Increased dry matter yield and grazing persistence
  • Increased environmental adaptability

There are a range of tropical legume species and cultivars that have specific fits into improved pasture systems.