Zulu Arrowleaf Clover

Zulu arrowleaf clover is an annual legume used for both grazing and fodder conservation (hay or silage). It exhibits good cold tolerance and germinates well at low temperatures. It is well suited to loam and sandy soils with acidic pH, where its deep tap root can penetrate up to 1.5m into the ground thus sourcing moisture from lower in the soil profile. This helps extend the pasture growing season. Zulu arrowleaf clover provides good quality feed that is non-bloating. It has high levels of hardseed making it persistent in cropping rotations or under heavy grazing situations.

• Good option for acidic loam and sandy soils
• Good hard seed levels
• Non bloating

Seed agronomy table

Maturity	Early
Min Rainfall	450
Hard Seededness	High
Seeding Rate	Kg/Ha
Dryland	6-10
High Rainfall / Irrigation	10-15

Enterprises for this Seed

Sheep
Beef Cattle
Horse
Hay & Silage

Strengths

• Long growing season, extending into summer.
• Excellent spring/summer dry matter production.
• Responds well to summer rain.
• Ability to suppress summer weed species.
• Deep taproot.
• Highly palatable, bloat safe legume.

Limitations

• Intolerant of poorly drained or saline soils.
• Poor winter dry matter production.

Plant Description

Plant: A self-regenerating temperate annual legume. Growth habit is erect to semi erect with a crown rosette of thick hollow stems reaching one metre in height.

Stems: Smooth, hairless.

Leaves: Trifoliate, with leaflets up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide, pointed at the tip. Leaflets have a distinct white V-shaped marking.

Flowers: Large up to 10 cm long and 3 cm across. White, developing a pink tinge as they mature.

Pod: Membranous, 2 to 3 seeded

Seed: Reddish brown, ovoid, 1 - 1.2 mm, approximately 800,000 seeds per kilogram. Arrowleaf clover has a high level of hard seed > 80%.

Pasture type and use

Arrowleaf clover is suitable for sheep/beef grazing or hay/silage production. It can be used in permanent pastures, short term pastures or in 1:1 pasture crop rotations. Provides valuable feed over late spring/summer for weaning lambs. Arrowleaf clover can extend the grazing phase beyond traditional sub clover pastures by 4-8 weeks.

Where it grows

Rainfall: Temperate regions receiving greater than 350 mm of annual rainfall. Requires adequate moisture from October to January to perform to its full potential.

Soils: Adapted to a range of soil types, moderate to high fertility, pH 5.0 to 7.5. Not suited to saline soils. Will not tolerate poorly drained, wet soils.

Temperature: Best adapted to a temperature range of 5 - 30_C. Tolerant of cold winter temperatures, but growth is suppressed.

Establishment

Companion species: Grasses: Compatible with all temperate grasses such as perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, phalaris and tall fescue.

Legumes: sub clover, medics and serradella.

Grazing herbs: Compatible with both chicory and plantain.

Sowing/planting rates as single species: 6-10 kg/ha. *ensure seed is Goldstrike treated.

Sowing/planting rates in mixes: 2-3 kg/ha. *ensure seed is Goldstrike treated.

Sowing time: Best sown in early Autumn, when soil moisture is adequate. Can be sown in early to mid spring in areas receiving reliable summer rainfall or under irrigation.

Inoculation: Goldstrike Treated. The use of Goldstrike XLR8 seed treatment is recommended to reduce damage from insects at seedling stages.

Fertiliser: New sowings will require fertiliser to promote early root development and enhance seedling vigour. Major nutrient requirements are phosphorous and potassium. Sulphur and molybdenum may be required in some areas. Soil test results and local knowledge of soil type and fertiliser history should determine rates to be applied.

Management

Maintenance fertiliser: Arrowleaf clover is highly responsive to fertiliser, which should be applied regularly. For best performance maintain Olsen soil P level above 25.

Grazing/cutting: Commence grazing when the plants are securely anchored. For newly established pastures plants should not be grazed once flowering has commenced so maximum seed set can be achieved. Must be grazed heavily when seed is mature to remove any residual dry material to ensure optimal regeneration in autumn. Plants are tolerant to heavy grazing over winter. Ideally suited to silage and haymaking. Growth in spring and early summer should be sufficient for two cuts of hay or silage. Ability to spread: Will regenerate from seed. When grazed by animals, in particular cattle, up to 30% of the seed eaten will pass through the digestive tract and still remain viable. Weed potential: Not regarded as an environmental weed. Can easily be controlled with selective herbicides in cropping areas. Major pests: Susceptible to attack from red legged earth mites and lucerne flea particularly in the seedling stage. Bluegreen aphids have caused minor damage to crops in WA. Major diseases: Susceptible to Phytophthora root rot under waterlogged conditions. Several viruses can affect Arrowleaf clover, the most serious Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus. Resistant to clover scorch. Herbicide susceptibility: Susceptible to herbicides or mixtures containing bromoxynil, terbutryn, diflufenican and 2,4-D amine. Will tolerate MCPA amine.

Animal production

Feeding value: High quality forage with protein levels as high as 30% measured. Feed nutritive value remains high through to maturity.

Palatability: Highly palatable legume.

Production potential: Annual production yields of over 10 t DM/ha have been recorded in Tasmania and 9 t DM/ha on the southern slopes of NSW.

Livestock disorders/toxicity: No problems have been reported for stock eating Arrowleaf clover. Considered a "bloat safe" legume.

International Contact

For international enquiries please contact
Sean Coffey
International Business Manager
+61 4 2865 2226
sean.coffey@pasturegenetics.com