Sweetclover
COOL Season - Legume
SOIL ADAPTABILITY:
Drainage: Poorly drained to excessively drained soils
Fertility: Excellent tolerance of low soil fertility
pH Level: 6.5-7.5
Minimum Soil Germination Temp: 42°F
Sunlight: Very good shade tolerance
SEEDING / GROWTH:
Dates: May be frost seeded or planted at least 6 weeks before first average frost.
Rates:
Precision: Not recommended
Drilled: 10 lb/A , 1/4' to 1/2' deep
Broadcast: 11 lb/A
Aerial: 12 lb/A
Average seeds/lb: 258,600
Inoculate: Yes, alfalfa or sweetclover inoculant
Emergence: 7 days
Height: 1.5' - 7'
Drought & Heat: Excellent drought tolerance
Excellent heat tolerance
Flooding: Tolerates lond flooding or ponding
PROS:
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Excellent Nitrogen source
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Excellent soil builder
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Excellent subsoiler and topsoil loosener
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Excellent extractor of potassium and phosphorus
CONS:
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Poor Nitrogen scavenger
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Mutliple passes of tillage are often required for termination along with herbicide.
Within a single season on even marginally fertile soils, this tall-growing biennial produces abundant biomass and moderate amounts of nitrogen as it thrusts a taproot and branches deep into subsoil layers. Sweetclover appears to have a greater ability to extract potassium, phosphorus, and other soil nutrients from insoluble minerals than most other cover crops. Root branches take in minerals from seldom-disturbed soil horizons, nutrients that become available as the tops and roots decompose. A traditional green manure crop in the upper Midwest before nitrogen fertilizer became widely availbe; Sweetclover usually produces about 100 lb. N/A, but can produce up to 200 lbs N/A with good fertiltiy and rainfall.