Clover frost-seeding rate effects on productivity and nutritive value of tall fescue pastures during the year of establishment

Abstract

Frost seeding is a low-cost effective strategy to introduce legumes into existing perennial pastures; however, it has been deemed unreliable in the upper southeast USA. We evaluated frost seeding planting rate effects of clover (Trifolium spp.) during the year of establishment on productivity and nutritive value of clover-tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Darbysh.] pastures. Ball (T. nigrescens Viv.), crimson (T. incarnatum L.), red (T. pratense L.), and white (T. repens L.) clover were frost seeded in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain for 3 yr (2017–2019). Planting rates were 0X, 0.5X, 1X, 1.5X, and 2X of the recommended rate (X) of 5.6, 13.5, 11.2, and 5.6 kg ha–1 for ball, crimson, red, and white clover, respectively. At Coastal Plain, clover accounted for ≤16%. At Piedmont, ball, crimson, red, and white clover accounted for up to 27, 48, 21, and 15%, respectively. Notwithstanding similar clover frequency early in the growing season at both locations, competition from tall fescue in a higher rainfall environment is attributed to the lower clover contribution at Coastal Plain. Increasing clover frost-seeding rate resulted in greater crude protein (130–154 g kg–1) and total digestible nutrients (586–610 g kg–1) only at Piedmont. The results from this study support the practice of frost-seeding ball, crimson, red, and white clover at planting rates of 5.6, 20.2, 11.2, and 5.6 kg ha–1, respectively, into tall fescue pastures in the Piedmont; however, minimal or no benefits of frost seeding clover were observed in the Coastal Plain.