The benefit of clover in grassland has previously been reported through increased animal performance, increased grass production and potential saving in chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser, as well as improving N use efficiency and N farmgate surplus.
Soil fertility is a crucial factor in establishing and maintaining adequate clover on farm.
When selecting clover varieties to sow, use the Department of Agriculture recommended list.
Small- and medium-leaved cultivars are best suited to intensive grazing systems, with large leaf clovers more suited to silage-based systems.
Clover should be sown ideally when soils are warm and moist – ideally in late April/ May, with over-sowing only to be done in April/early May.
Establishing white clover on farm will take some time, using a combination of both reseeding and over-sowing. Incorporating white clover in a full reseed is the most reliable method of clover establishment.
Over-sowing is a simple and low-cost method of introducing white clover into swards. Success is very much dependent on soil fertility, weather conditions at over-sowing and post-sowing grazing management.
White clover establishment
A targeted multi-year approach should be used in establishing a white clover system – a combination of reseeding and over-sowing.
Reseed 8% to 10% per year.Over-sow approximately 20 % per year.– year one: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25%.
– year two: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (50%).
– year three: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (75%).
– year four: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (100%).
– year five +: ongoing process.
Reseeding
Spring reseed provides best results –April, May.Spray off the old pasture with glyphosate.Prepare a fine, firm seedbed (with the most appropriate cultivar method for that paddock). Soil sample and apply required lime, P and K – apply as per soil result.Use the Irish recommended list for grass and clover cultivar selection.– medium-leaf cultivars for cattle swards.
– small-leaf cultivars for sheep swards.
Sowing rates– Cattle: 28-30kg/ha (grass); 4-5kg/ha (white clover).
– Sheep: 25-28kg/ha (grass); 5-6kg/ha (white clover).
Ensure good seed: soil contact by rolling after sowing.Nitrogen fertiliser post-sowing is important to ensure an adequate balance of grass/clover in the sward – applying zero nitrogen post-sowing can result in clover dominant swards (increases risk of bloat).Over-sowing
Control weeds the previous year prior to over-sowing white clover. April/early May is the best month for over-sowing.Over-sow directly after a tight grazing. White clover can be over-sown in a number of methods. Ensuring soil contact post over-sowing is one of the most crucial factors. White clover seed can be broadcast on to the sward or stitched in using a suitable machine.If broadcasting with a fertiliser spreader:– Mix clover seed with 0:7:30 fertiliser and only add white clover to the spreader when you are in the field to avoid white clover settling at the base of the spreader, with a maximum of 1ha at a time.
Stitching in white clover seed with a drill/harrow ensures better seed-to-soil contact. – Stitching must be used for over-sowing sheep grazed swards due to the denser nature of swards.
Sow at a rate of 5kg to 6kg/ha.Reduce N fertiliser post over-sowing to 15kg N/ha per month (12 units N/acre) for two months.Post-sowing management – (full reseed or over-sowing)
Having light available to the base of the sward is a crucial factor in post-management. This encourages taproot and stolon development.The first grazing should be at a pre-grazing herbage mass of 600kg to 1,000kg DM/ha.Subsequent three grazings should be at a pre-grazing herbage mass <1,100 kg DM and graze swards to =4cm (graze tight) – this will mean that paddock grazing times will be much reduced in these paddocks. No silage in the first 12 months after establishing. Swards should be grazed later in the autumn to avoid carrying heavy covers over the winter. 
Post-emergence spray for weed control is essential.
Weed control in reseeded and over-sown grass-white clover swards is vital to improve sward persistence. Clover-safe herbicides should be used in establishing and established swards.
All pesticide users should comply with the regulations as outlined in the Sustainable Use Directive.
Reseeds
Weeds are best controlled when the grass plant is at the three-leaf stage and the clover when the trifoliate leaf has appeared. White clover-safe herbicide should be used. Pro-Clova will be the only licensed clover-safe herbicide available for new reseeds. – Eagle and Pro-Clova are both licensed for established swards.
Over-sown
Established weeds should be controlled the previous year before over-sowing. Consider the residue time of non-clover safe sprays (this may affect clover establishment – read product label).
The benefit of clover in grassland has previously been reported through increased animal performance, increased grass production and potential saving in chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser, as well as improving N use efficiency and N farmgate surplus.
Soil fertility is a crucial factor in establishing and maintaining adequate clover on farm.
When selecting clover varieties to sow, use the Department of Agriculture recommended list.
Small- and medium-leaved cultivars are best suited to intensive grazing systems, with large leaf clovers more suited to silage-based systems.
Clover should be sown ideally when soils are warm and moist – ideally in late April/ May, with over-sowing only to be done in April/early May.
Establishing white clover on farm will take some time, using a combination of both reseeding and over-sowing. Incorporating white clover in a full reseed is the most reliable method of clover establishment.
Over-sowing is a simple and low-cost method of introducing white clover into swards. Success is very much dependent on soil fertility, weather conditions at over-sowing and post-sowing grazing management.
White clover establishment
A targeted multi-year approach should be used in establishing a white clover system – a combination of reseeding and over-sowing.
Reseed 8% to 10% per year.Over-sow approximately 20 % per year.– year one: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25%.
– year two: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (50%).
– year three: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (75%).
– year four: reseed 10% and over-sow 15% = 25% (100%).
– year five +: ongoing process.
Reseeding
Spring reseed provides best results –April, May.Spray off the old pasture with glyphosate.Prepare a fine, firm seedbed (with the most appropriate cultivar method for that paddock). Soil sample and apply required lime, P and K – apply as per soil result.Use the Irish recommended list for grass and clover cultivar selection.– medium-leaf cultivars for cattle swards.
– small-leaf cultivars for sheep swards.
Sowing rates– Cattle: 28-30kg/ha (grass); 4-5kg/ha (white clover).
– Sheep: 25-28kg/ha (grass); 5-6kg/ha (white clover).
Ensure good seed: soil contact by rolling after sowing.Nitrogen fertiliser post-sowing is important to ensure an adequate balance of grass/clover in the sward – applying zero nitrogen post-sowing can result in clover dominant swards (increases risk of bloat).Over-sowing
Control weeds the previous year prior to over-sowing white clover. April/early May is the best month for over-sowing.Over-sow directly after a tight grazing. White clover can be over-sown in a number of methods. Ensuring soil contact post over-sowing is one of the most crucial factors. White clover seed can be broadcast on to the sward or stitched in using a suitable machine.If broadcasting with a fertiliser spreader:– Mix clover seed with 0:7:30 fertiliser and only add white clover to the spreader when you are in the field to avoid white clover settling at the base of the spreader, with a maximum of 1ha at a time.
Stitching in white clover seed with a drill/harrow ensures better seed-to-soil contact. – Stitching must be used for over-sowing sheep grazed swards due to the denser nature of swards.
Sow at a rate of 5kg to 6kg/ha.Reduce N fertiliser post over-sowing to 15kg N/ha per month (12 units N/acre) for two months.Post-sowing management – (full reseed or over-sowing)
Having light available to the base of the sward is a crucial factor in post-management. This encourages taproot and stolon development.The first grazing should be at a pre-grazing herbage mass of 600kg to 1,000kg DM/ha.Subsequent three grazings should be at a pre-grazing herbage mass <1,100 kg DM and graze swards to =4cm (graze tight) – this will mean that paddock grazing times will be much reduced in these paddocks. No silage in the first 12 months after establishing. Swards should be grazed later in the autumn to avoid carrying heavy covers over the winter.
Post-emergence spray for weed control is essential.
Weed control in reseeded and over-sown grass-white clover swards is vital to improve sward persistence. Clover-safe herbicides should be used in establishing and established swards.
All pesticide users should comply with the regulations as outlined in the Sustainable Use Directive.
Reseeds
Weeds are best controlled when the grass plant is at the three-leaf stage and the clover when the trifoliate leaf has appeared. White clover-safe herbicide should be used. Pro-Clova will be the only licensed clover-safe herbicide available for new reseeds. – Eagle and Pro-Clova are both licensed for established swards.
Over-sown
Established weeds should be controlled the previous year before over-sowing. Consider the residue time of non-clover safe sprays (this may affect clover establishment – read product label). 
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