Reseeding Potential of Annual Clovers
Annual clovers (i.e., arrow leaf, crimson, ball, and berseem) are cool-season legumes widely used and adapted in eastern Oklahoma. They improve forage growth distribution, increase forage yield, and quality while reducing nitrogen fertilizer input. Clovers also aid in extending the growing season, thus reducing the costs of winter supplementation. They are generally very digestible and contain high levels of crude protein which lead to increased animal performance and profitability. Growing clovers with pasture grasses greatly enhances cost effectiveness in forage/livestock production. However, in some instances annual clovers are not considered dependable in their ability to reseed.
Annual clovers complete their life cycle each year. They are usually planted in the fall, and they cease production by late spring. Clovers can be re-established annually by either replanting or allowing plants to propagate depending upon reseeding ability. The dependence on natural reseeding might not be the most practical approach because of the increased risk of establishment failure. To establish adequate stands relying on natural reseeding depends on favorable environmental conditions along with grazing management practices in late spring to enhance clover seed production. Most clovers that have reseeding potential will also produce a large percentage of “hard” seeds. A hard seed is a seed that does not swell or germinate within its established period of viability. A hard seed has a tough impermeable coat that does not allow water or air to reach the embryo, which delays germination for long periods of time. Hard seed may survive passage through the digestive tracts of animals and can remain viable in the soil for more than 15 years.
