In today’s markets most seed companies have what is said to be
the best. Well what do you think? We all have been told or have
read something about the white and red clovers, crimson and the
white tail clover. High protein clovers as well as the 38
percent protein clovers. Every seed company say’s that theirs is
the best but only a few tell you in what regions that these
clovers are the best. The trick to any planting is the region
that these clovers are planted. In cool climates or warm
climates some will do very well in the south in wet areas, sandy
areas and some do well in the north wet and sandy areas as long
as there is enough sun light to allow the photosynthesis process
to work. No matter what people claim the trick is the seed that
is suitable for your region. Take the time to correct ph levels
that are suitable for the seed that is planted along with soil
preparation, the preparation of the soil along with a good solid
fertilizer program and adequate moisture will certainly help in
the yields that follow. Clover is a high protein legume that
benefits the animals that feed from it and contributes nitrogen
to the soil.
When you plant clover always use the recommended inoculants for
the seed that is going to be planted. When planting clover or
any type of wild life planting I prefer to use Bio Stimulants
like the RACKMAX brand because it
is so cost effective for what it does. These are plant growth
hormones that enable a plant to manufacture natural sugar that
gives a plant more early season vigor, better stands, faster
germination, more leaf area sooner, & much sweeter plants by
increasing the starch and sugar production. This makes a plant
resistant to freeze, drought, overgrazing, and errosion. It
increases the root system up to 300% and has a positive impact
on plant health. Most of us know a clover seed is very small and
does not produce a very large root system when you can help a
plant increase the way that it absorbs moisture and nutrients
this alone will help the survival rate of the plants. One word
of caution about using a Bio Stimulant on clover plant enough or
the deer will decimate it. The inoculants for the type of clover
that you purchase can be purchased in a packet by it self if you
have a seed that has already been inoculated it will not hurt to
add some more, this will insure that all of the seed has a good
dose of inoculants on them. When planting clover try to plant on
a good seed bed if you have a cult a packer use it if you don’t
then get the ground ready a week before planting, trying to get
the ground even to avoid small shaded areas in the field this
will let the dirt settle and tighten up a bit. Clover seed is
very small, if you plant say 12 to 20 pounds to the acre it is
hard for the birds to do much damage to it so put out the seed
and let the rain bury it or you can drag it in with a piece of
chain link fence. The ideal depth is about ¼ to ½ inches this
will provide sun light to penetrate for germination. If you have
a seed drill learning how to use it will help in an even stand.
A small seeder like the cyclone seeder will do very well. As
many hunters know now by trial and error that planting clover
seed to deep results in poor stands disking clover seed in 5 or
6 inches deep provides poor emergence in clover. Always try and
use the recommended amounts of seed when the planting is done to
eliminate competition of the seeds too many seeds will not let a
plant reach its potential making the process expensive, and not
enough seeds will make it easy for weeds to take over and the
process will not be as beneficial for your time spent planting.
Use herbicides in your clover fields when needed to eliminate
the grasses that compete with the clover… Diversity is the key
to any hunting area. A successful hunting area may have several
types of clover in it this will help in feeding wildlife at
different times of the year when one of the clovers matures and
dies off then another will be ready. Here in Alabama I like the
crimson and yucci Arrow Leaf, because of the cover and the
insects that is produced for quail and turkey poutls in the
spring as well as prime white tail forages in the fall and
winter.
Clover is a safe bet on planting for forage crops. One of the
really great things about clover is it makes it own nitrogen so
when you plant other crops with clover this will help provide
the nitrogen for other grasses in the area. Nitrogen is
essential in the production of wild life forages when the
nitrogen is present in plants deer prefer the nutritious plants.
Two overlooked aspects about any clover is the need to
refertilize several times during the year. Refertilizing will
help to feed these plants for the growth process keeping it
succulent.
Is the clover that is planted an annual or a perennial? Annuals
will need to be planted every year and the perennial will reseed
it self for several years if the fields are not grazed to the
ground during the blooming stage.
A simple p/h test can be done every year or so at that time
corrections can be made to the soil. If you would like some good
solid information on clover in your area go to the extension
office near you or just call they will be glad to help. You will
be a better manager of the land that you are managing. So now
you can see some of the benefits that clover has it will provide
good solid forage for you wildlife. Always remember that our
youth need to be involved with our time in the field. Ed Haas RACKMAX