Alsike Clover

1. Alsike Clover Trifolium Hybridium

2. Origin • Cultivated in Sweden as early as 1750 • Came to North America in about 1834 • Important legume in the clover-timothy areas • Gets its name from Alsike Parish of Sweden

3. Description • Stems and leaves are smooth • Short lived perennial, often used as biennial • The pink or white heads are smaller then red clover heads • Blooms throughout the year • Root system penetrates deeply into the subsoil • Roots survive the frost to grow a new plant the following spring

4. Adaptation • Cool season crop in low-lying moist areas • Can withstand soils which are waterlogged • Can stand spring floods up to six weeks • Also suited well for acidic, organic soils • Seeded very shallow, most tolerant of cold and frost • Damage from insects and diseases are very uncommon

5. Limitations • Intolerant of drought and high temperatures • Salinity tolerance is low • Shade tolerance is poor and will not make it • Less useful for mixtures

6. Uses • Used for hay in moister areas of Montana • It yields very well----- 1.5 tons/acre • One cutting can be harvested for hay each season • Bloat can be prevented if only 1/2 stand

7. Cost and pounds/acre • 60 pounds/bu. • Seeding rate is 6-10lbs./acre • 680,000 seeds/pound • $1.95/lb. • $59.50/50lb. bag