Clover

Clover is a perennial legume widely used in agriculture as a valuable forage crop and greening agent. Particularly popular is red clover or meadow clover (Trifolium pratense L.), which is distinguished by its high protein and nutrient content. Clover green mass is used to produce silage, pellets, briquettes, and grass meal, while the obtained hay has excellent forage qualities, including significant digestible protein, calcium, and carotene content. Clover yield ranges from 300 to 500 centners of green mass and from 40 to 80 centners of hay per hectare. For high-quality forage, mowing is recommended at the beginning of flowering, which promotes rapid regrowth and maintains high nutritional value.

Besides its forage purpose, clover is a valuable nectar-producing plant, yielding up to 50 kg of honey per hectare, particularly attracting bees with long tongues. The plant also plays an important role in agronomy by improving soil physical properties and accumulating up to 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Clover has soil-protective and phytosanitary properties, making it one of the best predecessors for subsequent field crops.

There are also microclover varieties used for creating low-maintenance lawns due to their resilience, hardiness, and rapid recovery. Microclover fixes nitrogen from the air, enriching the soil, and is distinguished by decorative flowering and low growth, allowing the formation of a dense green carpet. Microclover seeding rate is about 2 kg per 100 m². Clover seeds are produced in various countries and are available for purchase in specialized online stores.