Ladino clover - a high-yielding nutritious forage crop. Because livestock like it and it is not hard to grow, its popularity in Illinois will increase.

This pasture of lush Ladino clover is growing on a farm in White county. Such stands are possible almost anywhere in Illinois.

LADINO CLOVER IN ILLINOIS By R . F. FUELLEMAN, Professor of Crop Production

FEW FORAGE PLANTS have become so popular with farmers in as short a time as has Ladino clover.1 In Illi­nois, as in most of the north-central states, it has been

tudied experimentally since the 1920's, but for a long time was considered too temperamental and touchy for general use. Dur­ing the war a high-quality forage plant was needed to supple­ment other grass and legume pastures and to replace various grains that were ordinarily used for livestock feed. Ladino clover met this need and rose to its present position among our forage crops. During recent years many thousands of pounds of Ladino have been seeded in Illinois, chiefly in mixtures. Large plantings at the Dixon Springs Station in southern Illinois and on farms in northern Illinois provided the background of information and experience for these seedings.

ladino clover has a variety of uses. It may be used for hay, pa ture, seed, and silage. It has been used occasionally as a leaf meal rich in vitan1ins and protein to be included in mixed and prepared feeds.

When used as pasture, Ladino has a high carrying capacity. Also, trials at Urbana have shown that livestock like it. Few other pasture plants can compare with it in content of protein and calcium - it is at least the equal of high-quality alfalfa in this respect, perhaps even superior to it - and the content tays high throughout the season (Table 1) , Ladino clover is also

a good source of vitamin A, for lush, green Ladino clover often contains as much as 900 parts per million of carotene. This is nearly as much carotene as carrots have.

ladino is a large white-blossomed clover. It belongs to the

1 Trifolium repens L atum. In discu ing the origin of Ladino clover, Farmers ' Bulletin 1910 says, "Ladino clover appears to have come from and to have derived its name from Lodi, a town in the Province of Lombardy in northern Italy, where it was first found growing extensively, Seed was brought into the

nited States shortly after 1900, but it was not until 1912 t hat large quantities were imported and the crop ucces fully grown in t he irrigated valleys of the western states. I t has been repeatedly tried in the eastern states but was not generally successful until certain conditions necessary for satisfactory growth and per i tency were recognized."

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'" ladino clover has many wide-spreading runners and clumps of roots, as this single plant illustrates very well.

same genus and species as our con1mon white Dutch clover and wild white clover. I t spreads by stolons or runners, and by seeds. I t has a shallow taproot and a fibrous root system. It roots from the nodes as does white clover.

A single plant may occupy two or three square feet of space. The leaf stems are long and erect, and the leaves are considerably larger than those of white D utch clover, being more nearly

Table 1. - Protein, Calcium, and Phosphorus in Pure Ladino Clover at Different Datesa

(Crops grown at Urbana in 1947)

Sampling date Protein Calcium Phosphorus

perci. perci. perci. J une 3 .......... . ............... . 23.75 1. 76 .47 June 10 .. . ............ .. .. ............. . 21. 75 1.40 .34 June 20 .. ........... .. .. ..... ... . .. ... . . 21 .38 1.50 .37 J une 26 ........................... ... .. . 23 .75 1.25 .40 J uly 9 ................... ......... ... ; .. 22.12 1.53 .40 July 21 ... . . ........................... . 19.75 1.45 .37 September 17 ........................... . 21.75 1.35 .30

a Data provided by H. J. Snider of the Illinois Station.

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A fine stand of a Lad ino clover and grass mixture growing in Stephenson county in northern Illinois. Livestock like a mixture like this .

comparable to the leave of medium red clover. The white flower heads are almost as large as those of red clover. The seed is small and look just like that of ordinary white Dutch clover.

Adapted to Illinois Climate and to Fertile, Moist Soil

Climatically, Ladino clover is adapted to all sections of Illi­noi . Successful stands have been established without difficulty in all parts of the state. An occasional failure, presumably caused by drouth or winterkilling, i usually due to poor management. Relatively large acreage of Ladino clover are grown in the northeastern states, where there is adequate rainfall, and under irrigation in the western states. In Illinois it has been found to be most productive during seasons when rainfall is abundant and well distributed.

Ladino clover grow best on fertile, moist soils. Many thousand of acres of moist lowland soil in Illinois are well suited for growing the crop. It should not, however, be seeded on swamp or bog land. It needs a weet soil with a good supply of avail­able phosphorus and potash. If its fertility requirements are

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met, Ladino clover grows best on silt or clay loanl soils that drain well. Because the plant is shallow-rooted, it is particularly susceptible to drouth on sandy or gravelly soils aBd on clay soil that bake or crust easily.

Seed Shallow in Firm Seedbed For Ladino clover, as for nlost small-seeded grasses and

legumes, a firm, n10derately smooth seedbed is essential. The seed is small and there is always danger of burying it too deep. Loose seedbeds, even though fine-textured, dry out rapidly. Therefore the seedbed should be plowed, if necessary, allowed to settle, then harrowed and rolled with a corrugated roller or other firming device before seeding.

The high production of Ladino clover and the high per­centages of protein and calciun1 it contains indicate that it re­quires large quantities of plant food. Before seeding, the soil should be tested and necessary fertilizers applied. Well-rotted barnyard manure disked into the soil before seeding will help to establish and maintain the stand.

The time to seed is March or April or as soon as a seedbed can be prepared in the spring. If the land is not likely to erode, shallow fall plowing can be used, as this allows the seedbed to settle during the winter, which in turn n1akes it easier to prepare for earlier seedings. 80n1e farn1ers prepare a seedbed during the summer and seed during August. If moisture conditions are favorable, this luethod also is usually successful.

The seed can be broadcast by hand or by using a "horn," "windmill," or knapsack-type of seeder. In broadcasting, the problem of seeding too n1uch or too little is overcome by n1ixing soil, sand, or sawdust with the seed to provide more bulk. A drill with a grass-seeder attachment Inay be used for seeding. How­ever, care should be taken not to cover the seed too deep. \Vhen a mixture containing Ladino clover is being seeded with a drill , the seedbox n1ust be tight or the Ladino will sift out first. A good agitator to keep the seed well stirred is also necessary. One of the surest ways to get a stand is to roll the field with a cor­rugated roller, then seed, and follow the seeding by a second rolling to cover the seed. This procedure both finns the seedbed

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and covers the seed. A corrugated-roller seeder that sows the eed and covers it with a minimum an10unt of loss is now on the

market.

How Much to Seed In mixture 1 pound of Ladino seed to the acre is enough to

provide a good stand. When seeded alone, the rate is 2 pounds an acre, but Ladino is seldOlTI seeded alone except for seed produc­tion or as pasture for poultry or lambs.

If a nurse crop of sn1all grain is used, the seeding should be light. On fertile soil seeding either the nurse crop or companion grass crops at the ordinary rate tends to smother Ladino clover. Orchard grass, timothy, and tall fescue are good companion crops becau e they do not forn1 a con1pact, closely knit sod as do Ken­tucky bluegrass and brOlnegrass. vVhere either Kentucky blue­grass or bromegrass is used, the rate of seeding of these grasses hould be lowered to 3 or 4 pounds an acre.

Ladino is usually seeded with grasses and other legumes be­cause n1ixtures reduce the danger of bloat. \Vhen Ladino is used a hay, grasses make cutting and curing easier. Mixtures also provide ome assurance of a stand of forage in the event that the

ladino goes well with timothy in pasture mixtures. (Montgomery county)

Ladino clover fails. Experimental pastures at Urbana using t imothy, bromegrass, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue (Alta fescue) at regular rates of seeding, show that good stands of Ladino cannot be maintained in these mixtures unless the rates of seeding of the grasses are reduced.

The following mixtures and pounds per acre are suggested:

For seed production and for poultry and lamb pasture

Ladino clover .. . ..... . 2

For general pasture use

Ladino clover .. . ...... 1 Ladino clover ......... 1 Ladino clover ......... 1 Orchard grass . . ... ... .4 Timothy ............. 2 Orchard grass or Timothy . .... ........ 2 Tall fescue ........... 4 tall fescue .......... 5

Red clover ... . ....... 2 For general use on well-drained soils

Ladino clover ... .. . ... 1 Ladino clover ......... 1 Ladino clover ......... 1 Timothy .. . .. .. . ... . . 2 Alblfa ......... . ..... 6 Alfalfa ........... . ... 3 Alfalfa ... .. . .. . .. .. .. 2 Bromegrass . . ........ .4 Timothy or tall fescue .4 Redtop .. . . .. .. . .. . .. 2 Red clover . . .. . . .. . .. 2 Orchard grass .... .... . 3

Inoculation. On soils where red, white, mammoth , and alsike clover have been grown, inoculation is probably not necessary. However, if there is any doubt about the presence of bacteria or if soils are low in fertility, the seed should be inoculated. The cost of inoculation is small, but the insurance against failure it provides is large.

Best Use Is for Pasture

Ladino clover is best used for pasture, and the largest quan­tity of forage is obtained by pasturing. Because of the way Ladino clover grows) livestock that graze on it get mostly palatable, succulent leaves and flower stems. The carrying capacity of Ladino-clover pasture varies, but experimental re­sults at Urbana indicate that the usual rate is one and one-half animal units (cows) to an acre. In favorable seasons and with good management, this rate can be maintained throughout the grazing season. Sheep also like Ladino clover. At Urbana they made excellent gains on plots of Ladino clover alone and on com­

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At the Dixon Springs Station in southern Illinois good returns have resulted from alternate grazing of several Ladino-grass mixtures.

binations with red clover and orchard grass (Table 2). In other combinations gains were lower because the grasses offered too much con1petition to the Ladino. Good results have been ob­tained at the Dixon Springs Station with both sheep and cattle. Other pastures in various parts of Illinois have shown how high the yield of Ladino clover can be (Table 3).

The best way to use Ladino clover as pasture is to alternate the grazing between two fields , grazing one field closely and then resting it until new growth is produced. Continuous close grazing will cut down the productivity of the crop.

Table 2. - Yields and Sheep Gains When Ladino Clover Was Seeded Alone and in Mixtures at Urbana in 1947

Yield of Net total Days Sheep-days Plot and crop dry matter gain on per acre

per acre per pas-for season acre ture Ewes Lambs

lb. lb. 1 Ladino clover . . .... ...... 4 110 411 99 594 924 2 Ladino clover, bromegrass 5 195 165 127 594 1 176 3 Ladino clover, t imothy .. .. 4 426 150 89 402 600 4 Ladino clover. red clover,

orchard grass . ... ... . . . 3 888 441 99 594 930 Ladino clover, Alta fescue 4 286 174 79 438 564

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Table 3. - Yields of Dry Matter in Ladino Clover Mixtures at Several Locations in Illinois

Principal grass Place County species in 1947 1948

mixture

lb. lb. Alhambra Madison Tall fescue . . . . . . . . . .. . . 4 604a 5 765a

Belvidere Boone Alone . . .... . . ......... 2 618b

Cambridge H enry Kentucky bluegrass . . . .. 5 016b 3 905a

Dixon Springs Pope Orchard grass, tall fescue, timothy . . ... . . 4 852" 7 300c

Freeport Stephenson Kentucky bluegrass, t.imothy, bromegrass .. 7 553b 4 477b

Stockton JoDaviess Kentucky bluegrass .. . .. 6 116b

a Single cutting. b Two cuttings, in cooperation with Soil Conservation Service. e Under irrigation.

Can Be Seeded Alone for Poultry Pasture

Ladino clover makes excellent poultry pasture. Many poultry producers prefer it to alfalfa because of its palatability and suc­culence. At the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, when poultry were given free choice of Ladino clover and grasses, they selected Ladino clover in preference to the grasses. l

Considerable savings in concentrates and minerals for poultry are possible through the use of Ladino clover.

Good management, however, is necessary to maintain a stand of Ladino used for poultry pasture. Poultry tend to scratch the stems from their root anchorages, so it is best to provide a number of small plots for intermittent grazing.

Ladino Makes Excellent Hay

Ladino clover in mixtures makes excellent hay with a high nutritive value. It is relished by all classes of livestock and can be used to replace high-grade alfalfa. The principal problem in using Ladino clover for hay is to get a mixture having the right proportion of grasses to clover. Usually about 40 to 60 percent of the mixture should be grass. It is difficult to make hay from a pure stand of Ladino because its high moisture con­tent (80 to 85 percent) causes it to mat and later to mildew.

1 Science for the Farmer, Bul. 488 (Supplement). Penna. Agl'. Exp . Sta. 1947.

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A pu re stand of ladino clover at Urbana three months after seeding. This

fie ld is part of a series of rotation pastures for sheep.

The hay should be cut when about one-tenth of the heads have turned brown) left in the swath until partly dry) and then raked into a windrow to finish drying. As the hay consists mostly of leaves and leaf stems) the yield from a single cutting will not equal that of red or alsike clover or alfalfa.

If the hay is not handled carefully) losses from shattering of the leave will be severe.

Seed Production Is Uncertain in Illinois

}flost of our Ladino seed is produced in Oregon) California) Washington) and Idaho where moisture can be regulated through irrigation and where vegetative growth can be controlled and abundant flower production stimulated. Seasons of heavy rain­fall are favorable for vegetative growth but not for seed pro­duction. The 1946 and 1947 seasons at Urbana were favorable for seed production) but the good weather came too late to give growers much opportunity to manage their fields so that seed could be harvested.

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A number of growers in midwestern states have been produc­ing some seed, and the scarcity and high cost of certified seed have stimulated interest in producing seed in Illinois. Production in Illinois is somewhat hazardous, but these procedures n1ay improve the chances of getting a satisfactory crop:

1. Check the supplies of lime, phosphorus, and potash in the soil, and correct the deficiencies.

2. Plant only cer~fied or high-quality seed or seed from a known source.

3. Plant only on a clean seedbed.

4. If the weather is cool and rnoist in May and early June, clip or pasture the Ladino clover in early June. This will stimu­late flower production in late June or early July. The cool, moist weather favors vegetative growth more than flower production; bright, warm, dry weather increases flowering. In seed produc­tion, management is just as iluportant as weather.

5. Hives of honey bees in the field will help to insure seed pro­duction, since cross-pollination is necessary for seed forn1ation.

Handle seed crop like that of either red or alsike clover. When 90 percent of the seed heads have turned brown, the crop is ready to harvest. Cut it with an ordinary mower, partly dry it in the swath, and then rake it and allow to cure in the windrow. In curing, special care is needed to prevent molding, as the crop contains a high percentage of moisture. After it is dry, it must be handled carefully to prevent shattering. The seed may be hulled with a combine or a thresher with hulling attachments. A tar­paulin under the machine will, save seed that might sift through. A vacuum-cleaner type of machine is lUOSt effective.

May Be Good Orchard Cover

Orchardists are aware of the benefits of nitrogen in orchard..., . They also know that legume cover crops in orchards can serve as a source of nitrogen and as a soil mulch. Although no data are available, it is thought that Ladino clover may have some ad­vantages over other cover crops for orchards.

Urbana, Illinois Decemher, 1949 Cooperative Extension ',,"ork in Agri culture and H ome Economics: lJniversity of Illinois,

College of Agriculture, and the United States D epartment of Agriculture cooperating. H. P . RUSK , Director. Acts approved by Congreso; :'ITay 8 and June 30, 1914.

25M-12-49-4235