Sweet Clover: Utilization

This bulletin discusses only the use of sweet clover, which may be utilized for feeding purposes, such as pasturage, hay, or ensilage. With the possible exception of alfalfa on fertile soil, sweet clover, when properly handled, will furnish as much nutritious pasturage from early spring until late fall as any other legume. It seldom causes bloat. As cattle crave dry roughage when pasturing on sweet clover, they should have access to it. Straw answers this purpose very well. Sweet clover has proved to be a profitable soil-improving crop. The large, deep roots add much humus to the soil and improve the aeration and drainage. As a rule, the yield of crops following sweet clover is increased materially. Being a biennial, this crop lends itself readily to short rotations. Sweet clover is a valuable honey plant, in that in all sections of the country it secretes an abundance of nectar.