Birdsfoot trefoil production and utilization in indiana. Its other name of eggs and bacon is also descriptive as the mature. Birdsfoot trefoil plants are fine stemmed and tend to lodge easily. Birds foot trefoil is native to europe and asia and has been introduced to other regions. It may also permit a more extensive use of trefoil in areas wher. The plants database includes the following 4 subspecies of lotus corniculatus. Plants profile for lotus corniculatus birdsfoot trefoil. Pdf forage legume seed crop reproduction can be modified by regulating soil water availability.
Plant at 12 pounds per acre, or 3 pounds per acre in a mix. Food plot seedbirdsfoot trefoil seedforage for deer seed. Trefoils branched, relatively shallow taproot makes it less drought tolerant than alfalfa, but it is tolerant of poorly drained and somewhat acid soils. It is highly adapted to grow in a range of challenging conditions including infertile soils, soils with high acidity or poor drainage, and poorly prepared seed beds. They begin spring growth and flowering earlier than prostrate types, but are less winterhardy in northern states.
Pests and potential problems crown and root rots are the most significant diseases of birdsfoot trefoil. Though not an easy crop to grow a lot of attention must be paid to local conditions a successful crop is well worth the effort. Hay type varieties are intermediate between alfalfa and the pasture type of trefoil for tolerance to poor soil. Note on inheritance of ability to survive winterkiiling conditions in birdsfoot. Water management effects on birdsfoot trefoil seed production. The common name of this familiar plant is a useful guide to its identification. Seeding rates for various mixtures are indicated in the table. Birdsfoot trefoil production and utilization in indiana agronomy. Use varieties recommended by your state extension service for top persistence and yield. Good seed yields in missouri are around 100 pounds per acre, but may range from 40 to 120 pounds. Seed should be covered slightly or planted 34 inch deep. Birdsfoot trefoil stands under different management systems 5 years after sowing fergus and dawn combined. The process must be done carefully, however, because excessive scarification can injure the seed, thus lowering germination and seedling vigor.
Phosphorous should be applied annually based on local soil testing recommendations. Pure stands pure trefoil stands can be grown for hay and used with. Plants produce many bright yellow to orangeyellow flowers in clusters of two to eight. Therefore, seed companies often mechanically scarify the seed to speed germination. Seed production potential in birdsfoot trefoil lotus corniculatus l. Ohseed id loco6 swedenden virtuella floran good images loco6.
Birdsfoot trefoil seed production by hawk, virgil b. How and where to grow birdsfoot trefoil our advice. It can be sensitive to overgrazing so allowing for proper establishment and good rotational grazing practices will result in longer lived stands. Seed pods radiate from the flower stalk, resembling a birds foot. However, all the varieties listed here can be used for grazing. Birds foot trefoil lotus corniculatusperennial, 1224 inches tall. Seed production potential in birdsfoot trefoil inia. The crop may be utilized as pastures from lateoctober to midnovember. It does particularly well on chalk pasture if the grass is short and fine. Birds foot trefoil is a 2 to 3 tall introduced perennial legume. Birdsfoot trefoil is best seeded alone, or with timothy, without a cover crop. Birdsfoot trefoil is a very important plant in the meadow, for nectar and for caterpillar food.
Lotus corniculatus birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial forage legume for pastures and has a high nutritive value. It makes a good ground cover or filler for a waste areas. Birdsfoot trefoil is a leafy, finestemmed legume which obtained its name from its seed pod clusters, each ofwhich resembles a birds fool figure 1. Birdsfoot trefoil is a longlived perennial legume that can provide excellent nutritional value to pasture and additional summer production when grasses often go into a growth slump. White clover and birdsfoot trefoil have been prominent plants in some iowa lawns this spring and summer. The erect types better suit hay, haylage, and greenchop production. The circular hole in the pod indicates a chalcid infe trefoil secd production is the trefoil seed chaleid. Production of birdsfoot trefoil seed involves three phases. Birdsfoot trefoil has a well developed tap root with numerous lateral branches in the upper 15 inches of soil. Often used as forage for cattle, it is occasionally a troublesome weed. Common names include common birdsfoot trefoil, eggs and bacon, birdsfoot deervetch, and just birdsfoot trefoil, though the latter name is. Fs 259 june 1981 growing birdsfoot trefoil for forage.
Seed should be inoculated and drilled 14 inch deep during early spring or late. If trefoil plants are yellow and lack vigor, check roots for small growths called nodules. Birdsfoot trefoil seed production province of manitoba. The difficulty of harvest and low yields are primary reasons for high trefoil seed prices. White clover trifolium repens is a creeping perennial. However, responses to water stress differ for each. It has a wide crown and taproot, intermediate in depth between alfalfa and red clover. Each leaf has five leaflike stipules, three attached at the end of the petiole and two attached at its base. Birds foot trefoil, lotus corniculatus, perennial herbaceous plant of the pea family fabaceae.
Commercial seed production from trefoil depends on honey bees carrying out pollination. It can also be used for hay production in manyareas not suitable foralfalfa. Hand harvested seed yields have been as high as 500 pounds per acre but seed producers usually consider 50 to 100 pounds per acre a good yield. Birdsfoot trefoil seed may contain 15 percent or more hard seeds, which do not take up water and are slow to germinate. Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family fabaceae, native to grasslands in temperate eurasia and north africa. Pdf seed shattering is a major problem in birdsfoot trefoil lotus corniculatus l.
It does not cause bloat even if grazed directly, because of the presence of condensed tannins. Birdsfoot trefoil benefits from readily available phosphorous. It tolerates infertile, acidic, drought or wet soil conditions. Birdsfoot trefoil pdf albert lea seed house product information guide. In areas of new york and pennsylvania where alfalfa production is not optimal, trefoil may be a viable alternative in forage production systems. Pdf birdsfoot trefoil seed production researchgate.
Publication date 1960 topics lotus corniculatus publisher washington u. Birds foot trefoil lotus corniculatus seeds seed corner. The stems root at the nodes where they touch the soil. Birdsfoot trefoil is a longday plant requiring at least 14 h of daylight to flower and set seed. Birdsfoot trefoil attracts quail, turkey, dove, rabbits, and a host of other wildlife for the forage and seeds that are produced. The distinctive seed pod cluster of birdsfoot trefoil. Flowering throughout the summer in tiny yellow blooms, birdsfoot trefoil seeds are native to the temperate grasslands of eurasia and northern africa and have the ability to survive some less than ideal conditions, like heavy traffic and poor soil. Harvesting birdsfoot trefoil seed is profitable in many years despite the fact that missouris climate is not the best for high seed yields. Birdsfoot trefoil inoculant seed production from trefoil depends on honey bees carrying out pollination. It is a spring flowering plat featuring terminal clusters of pretty yellow pealike flowers in whorls. The circular hole in the pod indicates a chalcid infe pdf. Because individual plants may survive for only two to three.
It is an ideal forage legume for longtermpasture production as it has a long productive life and does not cause bloat. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for subspecies profiles. Birdsfoot trefoil yields less than alfalfa on welldrained, fertile soils but is superior to alfalfa on soils of marginal fertility and production capabilities. However, seed is difficult to harvest because of lodging and seed shattering. Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial legume that does not cause bloat in grazing ruminant animals. Birds foot trefoil lotus corniculatus is a herbaceous perennial native to europe and asia, but the plant has become naturalized in much of the united states. It tolerates infertile, acidic, drought or wet soil. It is very adaptable and will grow in a range of soil types. The best period for seed production for stand regeneration appears to be from early august to midoctober. They have become common in many lawns because they are prolific seed producers and adapt well to mowing and other lawn care practices. Seed production is highest in the northern part of the state.
It is often seen growing along with ribwort plantain and harebell. This introduced legume is widely used in the us but requires some management. Birdsfoot refers to the radiating seed pods that are said to look like birds feet whilst trefoil describes the leaf which is divided into three leaflets. Birds foot trefoil seeds can be started indoors or outdoors, and also known as babys slippers or bacon and eggs, the growing lotus corniculatus produces small, pealike, brightyellow. Each flower can produce a slender seed pod about iinch long which turns. Birdsfoot trefoil is one of the longest living perennial legumes grown and is used in many erosion projects along with the wildlife uses. Birdsfoot trefoil, a valuable tannincontaining legume for. Seed shattering is a major problem in birdsfoot trefoil lotus corniculatus l. There is a strong market for birdsfoot trefoil seed, but extra time and effort is required for proper production. Seeding rates for erosion control practices may run considerably higher depending on the mix and geographic location.