Managing clover

From grazing management to pest and disease, our advice and resources will help you to successfully manage clover.

The optimum amount of clover in a field is 30% of the dry matter (DM) of the total sward. At this level, clover can fix 180 kg N/ha/year and both animal and companion grass performance will benefit. However, the proportion of clover growing is often overestimated because its leaf lies face up compared with grass.

To reach 30% clover, the sward must appear to have 50–60% clover at its peak growth in August. Under rotational grazing, swards with 30% white clover content can be maintained for at least 10 years, with total sward DM yields reaching 10–11 t/ha/year.

10% clover content

30% clover content

60% clover content

See our tips on white clover management, and how Robert Drummond uses clover in an organic system.  

Read how to reduce crown damage and manage red clover for silage.

Find out how slurry application methods influence clover production.

Bloat and fertility are common issues related to grazing clover. See our advice on minimising the impact in grazing livestock.

From slugs to stem eelworm, read about the common pests and disease of clover.

If you would like to order a hard copy of the Establishing and growing clover guide or the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists, please contact publications@ahdb.org.uk or call 0247 799 0069.

The information in these web pages was sourced from Germinal, Grassland Development Centre (IBERS, University of Aberystwyth) and Charlie Morgan (GrassMaster Ltd).