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Legume
Legume Seed | Alfalfa | Alsike Clover | Birdsfoot Trefoil | Crownvetch | Hairyvetch |
Ladino Clover | Korean Lespedeza | Red Clover | Sweetclover | White Dutch Clove

Grass
Grass Seed | Orchardgrass | Tall Fescue | Perennial Ryegrass | K. Bluegrass | Timothy | Reed Canarygrass
Smooth Bromegrass | Big  Bluestem | Switchgrass | Indiangrass | Sorghum  X  Sudan | Sudangrass

Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus L.

Birdsfoot Trefoil Plant trefoil_2.JPG (22311 bytes)

Longevity:
 Perennial
Palatability:
 Very High
Winter Hardiness:
 Good
Drought Tolerance:
 Fair
Cool or Warm Season:
 Cool
Bloat Hazard:
 No
Use and Comments:
 Complements Kentucky bluegrass; low seedling vigor; ID-139.
Distribution in U.S.:
 Upper Midwest and Northeast.
Height:
 15-44 inches.
Leaves:
 Appearance of five leaflets per leaf, with two of the five actually stipules.
Umbel bearing 2-9 florets; lemon-yellow to orange.
Roots:
 Taproot.

Birdsfoot Trefoil leaves and stems
trefoil_4.JPG (19987 bytes)

Birdsfoot Trefoil flowers and seed pods

Soil
Drainage:
 Somewhat Poorly Drained
Fertility:
 Medium
pH:
 6.0-6.8
 
 
Seed
Color:
 Olive-brown, buff, purple mottled, and purplish black.
Shape:
 Oval.
Pounds Per Bushel:
 60
Seeds Per Pound:
 375,000
Seeding Rate:
 4-6 pounds PLS per acre.
Seeding Date (Indiana):
 Mar 1-May 1 or Aug 1-Sept 1
Emergence Time (Days):
 7
Optimum Germ. Temp. (F):
 70

Birdsfoot Trefoil Seed

 

For more forage information contact Dr. Keith Johnson: johnsonk@purdue.edu

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