CRIMSON CLOVER - Technical Note

FOR USE ONLY WITHIN NRCS

TECHNICAL NOTE
PLANT MATERIALS

AN EARLY CRIMSON CLOVER FOR COVER CROP USE

Prepared by:

Charles M. Owsley *
Donald Surrency
Malcome S. Kirkland

INTRODUCTION:

In the later half of this century, agriculturists have studied numerous cool season legumes for cover crop and conservation tillage use. Many agronomists recognized the value of incorporating early developing legumes into their conservation tillage systems.

With this in mind, in 1994 the NRCS Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center and the Auburn University, Alabama Experiment Stations released an early developing hairy vetch called 'AU EarlyCover'.

In 1997, the NRCS Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center and the Auburn University, Alabama Experiment Stations released an early developing crimson clover called 'AU Sunrise'. Results from two years of testing have shown 'AU Sunrise' is a cultivar that flowers 5 to 18 days earlier than 'AU Robin' and 12 to 28 days earlier than 'Tibbee' crimson clover. This new crimson clover should fit into several green manure and conservation tillage systems.

AREAS OF ADAPTATION:

The cultivar is well adapted to fertile upland soils of Alabama and Georgia. Further comparison testing will be done before the complete useful range of this cultivar is determined. However, it should be adapted in suitable sites to much of the Southeastern United States where 'Tibbee', 'Dixie', and 'AU Robin' crimson clovers are grown.

ESTABLISHMENT:

'AU Sunrise' can be broadcast or drilled. For maximum cool season coverage, broadcast 20 pounds of inoculated seed per acre or drill 8-15 pounds of seed per acre. In North Alabama and Georgia, plant September 15 - November 1. In Northern South Carolina, plant September 1 - October 15. In Southern Alabama and Georgia, plant October 1 - November 15. In Southern South Carolina, plant September 15 - November 15. In North Carolina mountains, plant mid August - mid September. In North Carolina Piedmont, plant September 1 - September 30. In North Carolina Coastal Plain, plant September 1 - October 15. Prior to planting, apply lime to raise pH to 6.0. Apply fertilizer as indicated by recent soil test results. Planting depth should be around 1/4 inch.

MANAGEMENT:

When it is time to kill the cover crop for conservation tillage planting, experience at Americus indicates that use of a systemic herbicide produces better results than a contact herbicide. Approximately two weeks after spraying, the cover crop should be dried sufficiently for proper summer crop planting. Due to earlier blooming characteristics, the summer crop can be planted 5-18 days earlier and 12 to 28 days earlier than when planting into 'AU Robin' or 'Tibbee' respectively.

DISEASE AND INSECTS:

This cultivar does not have any particular resistance to disease or insects beyond those commonly found in the species.

COMMERCIAL SEED PRODUCTION:

'AU Sunrise' can be harvested by direct combining. In Americus, Georgia, this is usually done from late April - early June. Normal yields are approximately 100 - 200 pounds of clean seed per acre. At Americus, the following combine settings were utilized on a 72 All Crop Harvester: Concave setting 1.0, cylinder speed 1200 rpm, fan setting of 2, tractor rpm 2400.

AVAILABILITY:

Auburn University and Alabama Crop Improvement Association are working with interested companies to secure rights to the new cultivar. Breeder seed stocks will be maintained by Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center and the Alabama Crop Improvement Association.

*Plant Materials Center Manager, Plant Materials Specialist, Plant Materials Center Assistant Manager

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