Sub Clover Seeds

Sub-clovers are one of the most widely used multipurpose pasture legumes used to supply high feed quality and enhance soil health. 

The term sub-clover refers to a group of three species:

Sub-clovers can contain varying levels of phytoestrogens that may affect fertility in sheep, although more recent varieties generally have lower levels. Sub-clover can
cause bloat. They are usually quite susceptible to RLEM; monitoring and control is needed for best performance.

Seeds are relatively large and sowing rates need to be 2 or 3 times higher than most other clovers in order to reach a similar plant density. Sub-clovers are annuals and self-seeding and re-generation is required for contributing to perennial swards. Once a pasture has been established with sub-clover, a couple of years of re-seeding and a proportion of hard seeds, will help create a seed bank to back-up the occasional failed season.

Sub-clovers have been developed for varying rainfall and flowering dates. It is highly recommended to sow at least two varieties with differing flowering dates, so as to allow for a spread of flowering and seed-set as frosts, drought, grazing, pests and herbicides may reduce seed set or cause failure. In areas with an early spring, it is suggested to sow an early and a mid-flowering type. In later areas, sow a mid-maturing and a late variety. Levels of hard-seed will vary between cultivars, although most varieties have at least some hard seed component.