Blood clover (Trifolium incarnatum), also known as crimson clover, is a versatile annual plant. It offers significant benefits in improving soil health and supporting various ecosystems.
What is Blood Clover
Blood clover is an annual legume, meaning it completes its life cycle within a single growing season. Plants typically grow 1 to 3 feet tall, supported by a central taproot and fibrous roots. Stems are upright and hairy. Leaves are trifoliate, egg- to heart-shaped, often hairy, and lack the V-shaped mark of red clover.
Its distinctive, cone-shaped flower heads are 1 to 2½ inches long. They contain numerous small, bright scarlet florets that open progressively from the bottom to the top. The blooming period typically occurs from late spring into summer, lasting for one to two months, depending on the climate.
Benefits of Blood Clover
Blood clover offers several advantages. As a legume, it forms a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules, allowing it to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants. This process enhances soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers for subsequent crops. Nitrogen fixed by blood clover becomes available to other plants when its biomass is incorporated into the soil.
As a cover crop, blood clover’s dense growth helps suppress weeds by outcompeting them for resources and sunlight. Its robust root system improves soil structure, increases water infiltration, and prevents soil erosion. Incorporating blood clover biomass into the soil also adds valuable organic matter, fostering a healthier soil environment.
Blood clover also serves as an excellent forage crop for livestock, providing high-quality pasture, hay, and silage. It is one of the earliest forage legumes available in spring, offering a nutritious feed source. Furthermore, its showy, nectar-rich flowers are a significant attraction for pollinators, especially honey bees and other beneficial insects, supporting local ecosystems and enhancing pollination of nearby crops.
Planting and Growing Blood Clover
Successful establishment of blood clover requires proper timing and soil preparation. The ideal planting times are typically in the fall (late summer to early fall) or early spring, depending on the climate zone. A prepared seedbed, with loosened soil and good seed-to-soil contact, is beneficial.
Blood clover thrives in well-drained soils and prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Before planting, conduct a soil test to determine pH and nutrient deficiencies, adjusting with lime if needed. Competing vegetation should be removed before seeding, either by tilling or using herbicides.
Seeding rates for blood clover typically range from 15 to 20 pounds per acre when planted in a pure stand. Seeds can be broadcast or drilled, with a recommended planting depth of ¼ to ½ inch. Keep the planting area consistently moist until germination, which usually occurs within two to four weeks.
For effective nitrogen fixation, use inoculated seed. Inoculation involves applying specific Rhizobium bacteria to the seeds, which form the necessary root nodules. Many seeds come pre-inoculated; if not, apply inoculant within 24 hours of planting and store seeds properly. Avoid applying nitrogen fertilizer directly to newly planted blood clover, as the plant will produce its own nitrogen.
Managing Blood Clover
Managing blood clover involves strategic timing for termination, especially when used as a cover crop. Termination is often timed before flowering to prevent reseeding, or after flowering to maximize biomass and nitrogen accumulation. Allowing the plant to flower and produce seed can promote natural reseeding for continuous cover.
Common termination methods include mowing, tilling, or crimping. Mowing is most effective during flowering to prevent regrowth. Tilling can provide a clean seedbed. Roller crimping is an option for no-till systems, ideally done when the clover is flowering to ensure effective termination. Wait 10 to 14 days after termination before planting a subsequent cash crop.
When harvesting blood clover for hay or forage, it is best to cut it at the early bloom stage. This timing ensures optimal forage quality. Natural reseeding can occur, but success depends on factors like hard seed percentage and proper grazing management.
Blood clover is generally resistant to many diseases, but it can be susceptible to issues like crown and stem rot and sooty blotch. Monitor for pests like aphids, whiteflies, and thrips. Blood clover can also host beneficial insects that prey on other agricultural pests.