Description:

• Berseem Clover (Trifolium Alexandrinum) is a fast-growing summer annual legume
• Used primarily as livestock forage and as a nitrogen plowdown in crop rotations.
• Approximately 200,000 seeds per pound, 60 pounds per bushel

Management considerations:

• Berseem clover does best on medium loam soils. It is not as drought tolerant as alfalfa.
• The most tolerant of wet soil conditions of all clovers and is well adapted to alkaline soils.
• Can fix 100 - 200 lb. N/acre as a winterkilled cover crop before corn or other nitrogen-demanding crops.
• Breaks down quickly in spring to deliver N for subsequent crops
  Tolerates close mowing and recovers rapidly after mowing to allow for multiple cuttings.
• Average to high protein and digestibility with low bloat potential.
• Seed with oats to maximize total dry matter and protein.
• Does not re-establish, so requires annual sowing.
• At 60° F, will be ready to cut about 60 days after planting.
• Must be cut before blooming or it will not recover.

Optimum Planting Dates:

• Seed after April 15 in MN to reduce risk of crop loss due to late frost. Seed early- to mid-April in Iowa.
• In the Corn Belt, it can be planted in mid-August to provide winter erosion protection.
• Can be over-seeded into standing small grain crops about three weeks after germination or after the tillering stage in winter grains.

Seeding Recommendations:

• Can be established as a pure stand, with a small grain cover crop, or seeded into a grass sod.
• Seed should be inoculated with the appropriate Rhizobium bacteria (Type R) to ensure adequate root nodulation for nitrogen fixation.
• Drill about 12 - 15 lbs/acre or 15 - 20 lbs per acre if broadcast.
• Seed no more than ½ inches deep. Cultipack or roll because good seed-to-soil contact is essential.

Fertilization: (Consider a soil test and please contact your fertilizer professional for your specific needs):

• Fertilizer needs of Berseem clover are similar to those of alfalfa.
• Fertilize with 60 to 100 lb. Phosphorus/acre if soil tests indicate deficiencies.
• Boron deficiencies can limit growth.

Weed and Disease Control: (This is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any specific product but as a list of possible controls. Please contact your chemical professional for your specific needs and always read and follow label directions):

• Maintaining a dense and competitive forage is important in preventing weed problems.
• There are few herbicide treatments available for mixed grass-legume combinations. Spot spraying may be the best option for scattered weed infestations.
• There are few disease or insect problems associated with Berseem clover in the Upper Midwest.

Harvest Considerations:

• Clip 30 to 60 days after planting when plants are 10 inches tall and basal shoots begin to grow. Timeframe will be dependent on weather, field and moisture conditions. Thereafter, mow every 25 to 30 days to encourage regrowth. Leave at least 3 to 4 inches of stubble because plants regrow from lower stem branches.
• Green chop a small grain/berseem clover mixture at the pre-boot stage to prevent the clover from going to seed.
• Berseem must be cut or grazed before it blooms or it will not recover.

Berseem Clover

The Dos and Don'ts of Berseem Clover

Berseem Clover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition