Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Exploring Clover‐Based Nurse Cropping for Birdsfoot Trefoil Establishment and Yield

Serkan Ateş, Elizabeth Seeno, Jennifer W. MacAdam, Derrick J. Moot

Grass and Forage Science · 2025

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Summary

ABSTRACT Birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.), renowned for its persistence in challenging soil and climate conditions, serves as a valuable non‐bloating forage legume in temperate regions. However, its slow establishment and low initial yields in the establishment year make it vulnerable to competition from companion and weeds species. Therefore, we investigated the effects of three legume species (red clover, Trifolium pretence L.; balansa clover, Trifolium michelianum L.; and berseem clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L.) as nurse crops at three seeding rates (target 60, 120 or 240 plant m 2 ). These companions increased ( p < 0.01) total forage accumulation by 37%–55% in the establishment year. The number of established birdsfoot trefoil seedlings was similar in monoculture and mi

Subject
Livestock nutrition & meat quality
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
System type
Other
DOI
10.1111/gfs.12710
Catalogue ID
SNmp2b3drc-bqcrtq
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