SARDI Persian Clover

Regeneration data (N.A.P.L.I.P.) has demonstrated a pattern of seed softening from SARDI Persian making it better suited to cropping than other commercial Persian cultivars. The regeneration of SARDI Persian was far superior, at nearly double the density of other commercial varieties. SARDI Persian can be grown on a wide range of soil types ranging from 5.5 _ 8.5 (CaCl2). SARDI Persian is well suited to soils with high clay content and performs particularly well on waterlogged areas or mildly saline soils. Suitable in a rotation with crops for nitrogen input or as a break crop for disease while supplying high herbage/forage yields for livestock. Grazing before the Autumn break will improve regeneration.

Seed agronomy table

Maturity	Early / Mid
Min Rainfall	300
Hard Seededness	High
Waterlogging Tolerance	Excellent
Seeding Rate	Kg/Ha
Dryland	5-8
High Rainfall / Irrigation	10-15

Blends using this Seed

Medic Haygraze HR Blend
HDL Blend

Enterprises for this Seed

Sheep
Beef Cattle
Diary Cattle
Horse
Hay & Silage
Viti & Horti

Strengths

• High nutritive value.
• Extremely high production potential.
• Multi cut forage crop.
• Tolerant of seasonal flooding.
• Some tolerance of salinity.
• Free of oestrogen risks.

Limitations

• Poor regeneration.
• Plant description.

Plant Description

Plant: Erect, annual. Up to 750 mm height.
Stems: Up to 35 mm diameter, hollow, soft.
Leaves: trifoliate, up to 25 mm long, plain, strongly veined, oval-shaped leaflets with serrated margins.
Flowers: pink-violet flowers. Many-flowered cluster and mature in axillary, white, spherical, woolly seed heads to 15 mm diameter on long stalks.
Pods: membranous, dehiscing at thickened sutures; one seeded.
Seeds: ~1 mm long, ovoid, various colours (brown, olive, purple); ~1.5 million/kg.

Pasture type and use

A winter-growing, annual capable of excellent winter and spring growth. Suited to seasonal irrigation. A valuable fodder crop.

Where it grows

Rainfall: > 300 mm in winter/spring rainfall zone for dryland use. Also used with irrigation. Tolerates water with up to 1500 S/cm on low salinity soils with adequate drainage.
Soils: Suited to clay soils, pH 5.5-8.5 (CaCl2). Tolerant of severe waterlogging and mildly saline soil.
Temperature: Good heat tolerance. Quite tolerant of frost and cold but slow growing at low temperatures.

Establishment

Companion species:
Grasses: Italian ryegrass.
Legumes: Balansa clover, arrowleaf clover.
Sowing/planting rates as single species: 5-15 kg/ha; broadcast onto a finely worked, weed free seed bed and cover lightly by a roller or drill seed at 5 mm depth into a clean, finely worked seed bed. High seed rate boosts winter yield and reduces weed invasion.
* ensure seed is Goldstrike treated.
Sowing/planting rates in mixtures: 3-7 kg/ha.
* ensure seed is Goldstrike treated.
Sowing time: February (if irrigating) to April.
Inoculation: GoldstrikeTreated.
The use of Goldstrike XLR8 is recommended to reduce damage from insects at seedling stages.
Fertiliser: Apply ~20-30 kg P/ha annually and correct any nutrient deficiencies, especially K, Mo, Cu, S.

Management

Maintenance fertiliser: For optimum growth Olsen soil P (0-10 cm depth) > 15.
Grazing/cutting: Suited to winter grazing. Set residues at 2-3 cm (winter) and 4-5 cm (spring) to avoid over grazing. Rotationally graze during the cool season when 15-20 cm tall; this stimulates tillering. If sown with grass must graze late winter/early spring to allow clover to contribute later. Suited to hay/silage production; most valuable aftermath. Stems are nutritious but slow to dry; use conditioner to speed up drying. Fast regrowth facilitates second cut; remove bales promptly, hay quite susceptible to rain damage.
Ability to spread: Excellent recruitment; produce high levels of hard seed.
Major pests: Red legged earth mite and lucerne flea need to be identified and controlled rapidly during establishment.
Major diseases: Some cultivars susceptible to leaf and stem rust (Uromyces trifolii-repentis) and clover rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum).
Herbicide susceptibility: Glyphosate. Damaged by many broad-leaf herbicides.

Animal production

Feeding value: High (high soluble carbohydrate, high protein content & low NDF content). Retains excellent feeding value as dry standing hay during dry weather.
Palatability: Palatable.
Production potential: Good winter, spring, summer.
Livestock disorders/toxicity: Low isoflavone content - no risk to breeding livestock. Low risk of bloat. Can be associated with photo-sensitization.