Green Manures booklet - Institute of Organic Training and Advice

Crimson clover or Italian clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
The use of green manures
Suitability:
L
pH range preferred:
5.5-7.0
Height:
30-60 cm
Frost tolerance:
Good
Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)
Suitability:
I
pH range preferred:
5.5-7.0
Height:
20 cm
Frost tolerance:
Good
OTHER CLOVERS:
This is characterised by brilliantly coloured flowers. It is
an annual and does not recover after grazing or cutting and
gives lower yields than red clover although it may be
established later in the autumn since its seeds are
relatively large.
This is a prostrate plant with long branched creeping
stems. It may be particularly suitable for intercropping.
The flowers (self pollinated) are pushed into the soil; the
plant then dies off but regenerates the following year
(possibly causing a weed problem).
Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum). Despite its name this is not a hybrid. It is of Scandinavian origin and is
better adapted than white or red clover to wet acid soils and cool conditions although under more favourable
circumstances it will not yield as well. Its growth habit it is similar to red clover.
Strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum) is similar to white clover but has better autumn and winter growth and
is tolerant of wet and salty soils.
Yellow suckling clover (Trifolium dubium) is a common contaminant of white clover seed but is much less
productive and persistent.
Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum). Like subterranean clover this produces most of its growth in the spring following
autumn germination and slow growth overwinter. It may be useful in conditions of low fertility and rainfall.
Caucasian clover (Trifolium ambigium) is a persistent pasture plant of cool climates although it remains
dormant over the winter and is slow to grow in spring. It tolerates waterlogged conditions and is superior to
white clover at low pH and phosphate levels.
Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinium) and Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) are annuals
really requiring warmer temperatures than those of the UK although they may give reasonable yields during the
summer months.
MEDICS (Medicago spp.) are another important genus of legumes. They have trifoliate leaves and so appear
superficially similar to clovers but can be distinguished because the midrib projects beyond the leaf margin.
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