Welsh Poultry Centre

Introducing Clover IntoAn Existing Grass Ley

All plants need nitrogen and if this is not to come from a bag it has to come through the use of legumes; in the grazing situation this means clover. This can be achieved either through reseeding or through introducing clover into the sward. While introducing clover is not as reliable as a reseed it is cheap and well worth attempting.

Ph

To achieve the goal of introducing clover into an existing grass ley, you will need to correct any deficiencies in the soil. Clover likes a ph between 6-6.5. This will help maintain good bacterial and earthworm activity within the soil. It will also allow better nutrient uptake by the grass and encourage good plant growth. Below a ph of 6 there is a decline in production due to poor nutrient uptake. In a reseed situation liming should be carried out to take ph up to 6.4 although overliming can reduce minerals available.

Ground limestone is the most popular source and is the benchmark by which other products are measured. However basic slag, as well as liming, will also provide a good amount of P and many trace elements. If you were already registered with a organic sector body you may require permission from your sector body before you were able to use basic slag. It is likely that they would ask for justification in the form of a soil test. Given your soil indices the suppliers of the basic slag should be able to tell you the application rates.

Soil Test

The soil test that you should have carried out should be comprehensive, including an indication of soil type or any possible trace element deficiencies and organic matter levels as well as main nutrients. I would suggest that you carry out soil tests on a regular bases, (see soil test article). Although fields may appear similar the tests should be done per field. It is remarkable how different histories and usage change soils in different fields. Try not to sample a field within 6 months of applying fertilisers

Mineral Fertilisers

If you are registered with an organic sector body or wish to follow organic principles you may wish to use mineral fertilisers. Information on permitted inputs can be found in the organic standards and in technical leaflets available from certifying bodies (such as the Soil Association) but ground limestone/chalk is typically used to increase pH and rock phosphate such as Timac G27 for phosphorus levels.  Highland shale has been used to increase potassium levels but there is also now a quicker-acting input called MSL-K.

Potassium sulphate could be considered as a one-off remedy where the soil clay content is below 20% and the potassium index is 1 or below. I would suggest that you utilise any well-rotted manures you have to bring up the potash levels. The rate would depend on your soil indices

Kieserite is useful in addressing low magnesium levels though dolomite can be used to increase magnesium at the same as increasing pH and seaweed products are useful for general trace element inputs.  Most of these inputs will require advance permission from your certifying body if you are registered as organic and you would need to make a case for their use -soil analyses are usually considered to be essential for any such requests. 

It is important that pH and phosphate levels are reasonable before attempting to reseed or introduce clover. Grass clover leys are more sensitive to P and K shortages than pure grass leys. As mentioned Ph should be around 6-6.5 while phosphate indices should be 2 or above.

Introducing Clover

One of the reasons why introducing clover into a sward is not always successful is connected with the grass varieties already present. Those with upright growth habits make it easier for clover stolons to spread across the soil surface. Underground growth habits are also important; where grass roots develop rapidly they compete with clover for nutrients. In general Timothy and Perennial ryegrass allow better establishment of clover than Italian ryegrasses and cocksfoot. Therefore, when trying to establish clover into a sward, failure can be due to grasses present out competing the clover.

It is necessary to open up the sward as much as possible. This can effectively be done with sheep intensively grazed, and then by harrowing several times in different directions. Another possibility is after cutting.

After the sward has been opened up there are a variety of methods to actually introduce the clover and grass seed. It can be applied by broadcasting, (along with a suitable bulk such as a perennial ryegrass), or it can be spread with FYM or slurry. It has been known for some to spread through an irrigation system while others have had success by feeding it to the stock and letting them spread the seed. Alternatively the clover can be drilled with a slot drill although this adds to the cost.

If broadcasting it can be effective to spread a light dressing of FYM on after. Whichever method is preferred it is useful to return grazing animals after 3 days to keep down existing grass until the clover has germinated.

Varieties of Clover

I would recommend using different varieties of clover. For instance Alice is a high yielding, earlyspring growing variety but is less persistent than the medium leafed Menna.Kent wild white would also be suitable being very persistent and giving bottom to the sward, especially useful if grazing sheep.

An alternative to these would be the Aber varieties, such as Aber Dai rather than Alice; Aber herald rather than Menna and Aber crest rather than Wild White Kent. These newer varieties are supposed to be more cold tolerant. The seed rate for white clover in a reseed mixture is around 3.5/4.5kg per ha plus 10-12kg of grass seed (perennial ryegrass, timothy mixture). However, when trying to establish clover in a sward I would consider a slightly higher rate. (5kg clover and 15kg grassseed/ha).

Introducing clover is not guaranteed to succeed but it is much cheaper than a reseed and therefore may be worth considering.

Ends article

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About theauthor

Stephen Merritt is a partner in The WelshPoultry Centre and an accredited advisor and board member of The Institute ofOrganic Training and Advice and has spent over 30 years working in sustainable agriculture in developing countries, England and Wales.  In the last 10 years Steve has specialised in free range and organic poultry production and now offers on farm advice and training to this sector.