White clover seed
White clover seed produces plants that are good for production and the environment, offering many benefits to today’s sustainable livestock farming systems.
Able to supply up to 150kg nitrogen/ha, white clover reduces the need for artificial fertiliser and the cost of application without impacting grass yield. A high-quality and digestible plant, white clover also supports higher animal feed intakes and enhanced performance.
To gain the most from white clover, an established sward needs a clover content of 25-30%. Slower to establish than grass due to its smaller seed size, Germinal’s white clover is coated to improve establishment and productivity.
The larger seed size creates better soil-to-seed contact and the coating’s beneficial ingredients promote faster germination and more energy for the seed. It can be used in a full reseed or oversown into an existing sward.
White clover seed can be sown as part of a full reseed or oversown into an established sward.
Please feel free to ask a Germinal expert if you want advice on how to sow white clover.
Usage guide: White clover seed
Sowing rate: 0.5-1.5 kg/acre (1.5-4 kg/ha) if sowing with grass as part of a full reseed; 2.0 kg/acre (5.0 kg/ha) if overseeding white clover
Sowing time: April-August
Sowing depth: 10-15 mm
Sowing instructions
As part of a full reseed: Cultivate to achieve a fine, firm seedbed. Ploughing will help level rough fields. Sow in good conditions (warm with rain forecast), no deeper than 10-15 mm. Roll well after sowing to ensure good soil/seed contact.
Overseeding: Ensure adequate soil pH, P and K indices. Control weeds before sowing clover. Ensure good soil seed contact. Ideally, sow after a heavy silage cut. Sow in warm conditions with rain forecast. Stitch clover seed in, or broadcast with 0:7:30. Roll after sowing. Avoid spreading N for the remainder of the year so white clover has less competition from grass and can get established.
After sowing Monitor for pest attack and take immediate action where necessary. If sown as part of a full reseed, post-emergence spray will be necessary but ensure you use a clover safe spray.
Grazing: Graze frequently at low covers for the first few grazings to allow light into the base of the sward. Avoid cutting for silage as clover can then out-compete grass. Maintain optimum soil pH, P and K.
Uses: Dairy – Y; cattle – Y; sheep – Y