White clover (Trifolium repens)
A highly-productive perennial for high-rainfall areas or irrigated pastures, which grows vigorously during spring and and can facilitate considerable nitrogen fixation in dominant stands.
Key features
Common name: White clover
Scientific name: Trifolium repens
Minimum average annual rainfall:
- Greater than 700mm
Preferred soils: White clover is suited to a wide range of soils pH > 4.5; optimum 5.3. Tolerates low exchangeable aluminium and poorly-drained soils. Well suited to peaty soil.
Suitable companion species:
- Grasses: White clover can be sown with most temperate and subtropical species including perennial ryegrass, phalaris, tall fescue, kikuyu, paspalum, Rhodes grass and Setaria
- Legumes: White clover will coexist well with strawberry clover, red clover and sub-clovers
- Herbs: White clover can be sown with plantain and chicory
Sowing rates:
- Single species: 2–4 kg/ha; sow at 5–15mm into a clean, finely-worked seed bed and roll
- Mixed species: 0.5–2 kg/ha
Sowing time: Autumn or spring. Inoculate seed with Group B rhizobia
Benefits
- High nutritive value and year-round production
- Well adapted to grazing
- Some Australian cultivars relatively heat tolerant
Challenges
- Vigour is limited by viral diseases
- Poor tolerance of summer moisture stress
More information
Websites
Currently-available cultivars can be found on the Australian Seed Federation Pasture Seed Product database
Factsheets and publications
White clover (NSW DPI)
Case studies and articles
Rob and Eliza Tole, Tasmania (mixed farming)