The only down side to having legumes is the possibility of bloat in ruminant animals. Incidence of bloat can be minimized by grazing multiple species of forages and making sure animals are full when turned into pastures planted with legumes. Poloxalene blocks can also be put out to prevent bloat in ruminants. Horses are not susceptible to bloat, nonetheless it is a good idea to be sure they are full when turned out on pastures planted in bur clover to minimize the possibility of gastric upset.
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| Armadillo Bur Medic |
Bur clover is a legume, and is in the same family as Alfalfa, and legumes use a symbiotic relationship with a bacteria, known as Rhizobium that allow them to convert atmospheric Nitrogen for their own use. That ability actually gives legumes a very competitive advantage. Bur clover is a cool season seed producing annual that germinates in the Fall and produces most of its growth in mid to late Spring. On average it can leave 75 lbs of Nitrogen in the soil as plant residue and what is processed through grazing animals. Bur clover can reach 14-15% protein and 65% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) so it is a high quality forage in your pasture mix.
Bur clover is a broadleaf plant and as such is highly susceptible to broadleaf weed killers like 2,4-D and Grazon Next. Pursuit and Treflan are both effective for weed control in bur clover, but will back them up for a period of time.
Here in south Texas Pogue Seed, www.pogueagri.com, has 2 varieties that work quite well. Armadillo Bur Medic is adapted for use on clay or loamy soils, while Devine Little Bur Medic is adapted for use on sandy soils that are slighly acidic.
Clover Planting
Clovers should be planted in a prepared (disked) seedbed from late September to late October. Land preparation is necessary for early clover plantings to remove competition from summer weeds and grasses. This also allows for more precise clover seed placement which results in better stands. When overseeding into an undisturbed summer grass sod, planting should be delayed until mid-October to early November. The later planting date is necessary to reduce summer grass competition to the emerging clover seedlings. On sandy soils, a light disking (1-2 in.) of a bermudagrass or bahiagrass sod will improve clover establishment and allow early planting dates used on a prepared seedbed.
Clovers should be planted in a prepared (disked) seedbed from late September to late October. Land preparation is necessary for early clover plantings to remove competition from summer weeds and grasses. This also allows for more precise clover seed placement which results in better stands. When overseeding into an undisturbed summer grass sod, planting should be delayed until mid-October to early November. The later planting date is necessary to reduce summer grass competition to the emerging clover seedlings. On sandy soils, a light disking (1-2 in.) of a bermudagrass or bahiagrass sod will improve clover establishment and allow early planting dates used on a prepared seedbed.
Step-by-step planting guide
1. Select planting site and test soil to determine soil pH and any nutrient deficiencies. If soil pH is lower than 6.0, test 6 months before planting to allow time for the applied lime to raise soil pH.
2. Select best adapted and otherwise suitable clover species for planting site.
3. Check with seed retailer at least 2 weeks before desired planting date in case selected clover species or inoculant are not in stock.
4. If planting on a disked seedbed, apply phosphorus, potassium, and necessary minor nutrients before final land preparation. If planting on lightly disked or undisturbed sod, delay fertilization until crop is up and has at least one leaf.
5. If coated preinoculated seed is purchased, store in a cool, shaded area until planting. If uncoated seed is purchased, inoculate seed within 24 hours of planting and store in cool, shaded area until planting. Hot temperatures will kill the Rhizobium bacteria on the seed.
6. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer if clover is planted alone. Planting annual ryegrass with the clover provides earlier grazing and reduces clover bloat potential. Apply 60 to 70 lb nitrogen/acre in December to ryegrass-clover mixtures.
7. Grazing can begin when pasture is 4 to 6 inches tall. This will be early March if clover is planted alone, or early February if clover is mixed with annual ryegrass.
With the high cost of Nitrogen fertilizers these days I am looking for anything that can help me save money and create fertility in my pastures. I can not imagine a pasture forage mix that does not contain some bur clover in it.
My posts have become very focused on forage lately because of the lack of high quality forage due to drought. I will try to put together some cowboy and horsemanship focused posts in the next couple of weeks.
-J.D. Folbre
1. Select planting site and test soil to determine soil pH and any nutrient deficiencies. If soil pH is lower than 6.0, test 6 months before planting to allow time for the applied lime to raise soil pH.
2. Select best adapted and otherwise suitable clover species for planting site.
3. Check with seed retailer at least 2 weeks before desired planting date in case selected clover species or inoculant are not in stock.
4. If planting on a disked seedbed, apply phosphorus, potassium, and necessary minor nutrients before final land preparation. If planting on lightly disked or undisturbed sod, delay fertilization until crop is up and has at least one leaf.
5. If coated preinoculated seed is purchased, store in a cool, shaded area until planting. If uncoated seed is purchased, inoculate seed within 24 hours of planting and store in cool, shaded area until planting. Hot temperatures will kill the Rhizobium bacteria on the seed.
6. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer if clover is planted alone. Planting annual ryegrass with the clover provides earlier grazing and reduces clover bloat potential. Apply 60 to 70 lb nitrogen/acre in December to ryegrass-clover mixtures.
7. Grazing can begin when pasture is 4 to 6 inches tall. This will be early March if clover is planted alone, or early February if clover is mixed with annual ryegrass.
With the high cost of Nitrogen fertilizers these days I am looking for anything that can help me save money and create fertility in my pastures. I can not imagine a pasture forage mix that does not contain some bur clover in it.
My posts have become very focused on forage lately because of the lack of high quality forage due to drought. I will try to put together some cowboy and horsemanship focused posts in the next couple of weeks.
-J.D. Folbre
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