Red Clover an ideal tillage crop? Dan Clavin, Organic Specialist, Teagasc Athenry Presentation to National Organic Tillage Forum Kilashee Hotel, Naas, Tuesday 11 th September 2018
Talk topics Where red clover fits into a tillage farm Benefits and uses How to establish? How to manage? Yields, production costs and value
What is red clover?
Red clover -Trifolium pratense L. Legume + companion grass Erect growing habit Grows to 20-80 cm tall Silage > grazing
Red clover - Trifolium pratense L. High yield and protein potential Perennial 2 to 6 years Not as common in pastures/tillage rotations over recent decades
Red clover - nitrogen fixation N-fixing bacteria enter roots and induce nodules Can fix 200kg N/ha/year dependence on inorganic N
Red clover - tillage potential Soil health and fertility soil structure soil fertility (N) Suppress weeds Excellent quality forage Green manure Mulch/Plough under soil organic matter
Red clover - Animal production Red clover silages Excellent forage: DM yield (13-16 t D.M./ha) Protein (14-22% crude protein) intake beef & milk production vs. grass silage linoleic acid, CLA & -linoleic acid in milk vs grass
15 t D.M. /ha Yield of red clover swards/year over 6 years (ref: Teagasc Grange research)
Year to year comparison Average Annual yield (ref: Teagasc Grange research)
(ref: Teagasc Grange research)
Companion Grass Crude Protein % Grass + 0N (Mid March) = 10% protein Grass + 125 kg N/ha (mid March) = 16% protein (ref: Teagasc Grange research)
Red Clover-Grass on a tillage farm, Co. Westmeath 1 week after 2 nd cut, 1 st August 2018
Red Clover-Grass on a tillage farm, Co. Westmeath 3 weeks after 2 nd cut, 14 th August 2018
Red Clover-Grass on a tillage farm, Co. Westmeath 5 weeks after 2 nd cut, 28 th August 2018
Red Clover-Grass on a tillage farm, Co. Westmeath 7 weeks after 2 nd cut, 10 th September 2018
Sow April to August Seed: 50-70% red clover + 30%-50% grass. 30 kg/ha. Red Clover Establishment Full-re-seed on it s own or undersow with arable silage Tiny seedrecommend surface spread. Max. depth 1cm. Cut and remover or mulch by November. Leave low cover 4-6cm over Winter Recommend to allow to flower before 1 st cut - for root development
1. 2. 3. 3-4 cuts/year. 6-8 week intervals 1 st cut May Silage>Grazing Red Clover Management Cut crops at 7-8cm height-to avoid crown damage 4. N 5. Wilt for 24 hourssilage ensilability, avoid conditioner mower shatters leaves P and K and Lime as per Teagasc recommendations
Yields and production costs- red clover-grass silage Year Good Yield (t DM/ha Cut 1 12.6 157 2 13.9 150 3 14.4 152 Avg: 13.6 153 Costs ( /t DM utilisable) Costs: Poor Yield Costs - Establishment (t DM/ha ( /t DM - Fertiliser: Cut P, K, Lime utilisable) - Harvesting: 8.4 Pit 1 218 st Cut; Bale and wrap 2 nd - 4 th Cut - Minor 9.3 field maintenance 206 (eg. hedges) 9.6 209 Avg: 211 4 cuts per year - potential cost savings if 4 th cut (1 t DM/ha) is mulched, not harvested. Value to livestock farmer in energy and protein = 188/t DM utilisable. Yield: ~4-5 ha could produce 30% of the Winter feed for a 100 cow herd.
returns per ha Potential sale price to livestock farmer 188/t DM Costs for tillage farmer utilised DM/ha/year (avg. 3 years). x 11.5 tonnes DM/ha utilised - 153/t DM 35/t DM = 400/ha margin But market price livestock farmers generally pay is ~ 160 t DM for good quality grass silage. Need for focus on extra benefits of red clover both to tillage system and to animal performance.
Practical observations Red clover appears sensitive to mechanical damage in wet weather. Red clover sometimes looks poor during the Winter but it recovers well by May. Remains to be clarified how red clover would respond to organic manures and if persistence can be maintained at farm level subject to effects of manure and silage harvesting. Hardly any crop pests or diseases are noticeable in Ireland. Red clover contains oestrogenic compounds that can lower ewe fertility when put to ram. Ensilability: all red clover is adjudged to require some wilting or addition of a preservative to aid ensiling. Mulching instead of harvesting the 4 th cut may be financially prudent due to low yield.
Conclusions Red clover has the potential to improve soil health and fertility of tillage soils. Red clover-grass silage offers the potential to produce a high yield and high quality protein crop for tillage famers to sell for animal feed or use themselves. Favoured management option for yield, quality and clover persistency: - sow red clover with a companion grass - early harvest schedule starting in May - avoid Nitrogen use Keys to success of this crop: - very good initial establishment - NB Lime, P and K maintained at recommended rates - low apparent challenge from diseases and pests - crop removed at end of each year (4 th cut or mulch)
Organic Tillage 380/tonne Price for organic porridge oats 2018 (J. Flahavan)
Go raibh maith agaibh Thank you