Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)
Characteristics
- Yield based on 3 harvests/season
- Seeds/pound: 375,000
- Seeding rate: 4-6 lbs pure live seed/acre (10-12 lbs/acre for conservation purposes)
- Seeding date: early spring, or late summer before August 1
- Late maturing, better for pasture than hay crop
- Can graze frequently, but not closely, persists in NYS by reseeding
- Also used for erosion control, soil improvement and forage for deer
Advantages
- excellent quality possible
- well adapted to acid or variably drained soils
- no bloat hazard
- best legume to stockpile for fall grazing
Concerns
- not persistent in NYS due to Fusarium disease complex
- slow to establish, slow spring growth and regrowth
- lower yielding than alfalfa
- needs fall rest period
- poor shade tolerance
- fair drought tolerance
More information
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