Kura clover may be a solution for Wisconsin farmers who need a persistent forage legume in pastures, research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown.

Forage legumes, such as alfalfa and traditional clovers, do not live long in Midwest pastures. “Kura clover is the most persistent legume that is currently available for production in the north-central states,” says Ken Albrecht, an agronomist at UW-Madison”s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

There has been no death or decline in productivity of kura clover seven years after establishment in research plots at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station, says Albrecht. This includes two winters that killed half of the alfalfa in Wisconsin. “Kura clover survived the 1991-1992 winter while alfalfa in neighboring fields was killed,” Albrecht says.

Kura”s ability to survive in pastures longer than alfalfa may outweigh its lower forage yield, which is 20 percent less than alfalfa, says Albrecht.

Unlike other clovers or alfalfa, kura clover spreads by rhizomes or underground stems, similar to quackgrass. “This allows the plant to propagate itself vegetatively and spread one to two feet per year in mixed grass pastures, filling in the bare spots,” says Albrecht.

Establishing kura clover is challenging. According to Albrecht, the plants remain small the first year because they put so much energy into establishing taproots and rhizomes. “Strategic grazing or clipping can be used during the first year to reduce competition from grass and weeds,” he says. Nutrient requirements of kura clover have not been extensively evaluated, however, they seem to be similar to those of red clover.

Kura clover is compatible in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, and smooth bromegrass, says Robert Zemenchik, agronomy research assistant. “We observed that over a seven-year period these grass/clover mixtures can be harvested three to five times per year without affecting the mixture”s yield or kura clover”s persistence in the stand,” says Zemenchik. Kura and grass mixtures can also be grazed or harvested to a 1.5-inch or 4-inch stubble height without hurting the clover.

As with other legumes, kura clover contributes nitrogen to the pasture system. Mixtures of kura clover and grass can yield up to 50 to 200 percent more than a grass-only pasture. “Nitrogen fertilizer required for this type of response would cost up to $80 per acre,” Zemenchik says.

Kura clover originates in Caucasian Russia and is grazed in native meadows there. Until recently it had not been available for commercial use in the United States. Kura clover rhizobia (bacteria important for root nodulation) are now available from several sources. “The seed must be inoculated with rhizobia specifically for kura clover before planting,” says Albrecht. “This ensures that the legume will nodulate and supply nitrogen to the pasture system.”

Currently, about 10,000 pounds of seed are available from a few seed dealers throughout the United States, says Albrecht.

“Last year”s production of kura seed was poor,” says Phil Geertson, owner of Geertson Seed Company, who has worked with kura clover seed production for eight years. “Plants that have creeping ability sometimes are poor seeders and also have less seedling vigor.”

Geertson has 3,000 pounds of seed available. He was hoping for 20,000 pounds. “We don”t know why there was such poor seed production this year,” Geertson says.

Geertson also believes that kura clover would be useful in the Midwest. “Kura will be good in a permanent pasture situation,” he says. “Mixed with orchardgrass and a creeping alfalfa, kura clover will provide a high quality hay crop in the spring and can be pastured the rest of the year.”

Kura clover”s seed costs are high because of low yields and difficulties in cleaning the seed. The seed costs around $6 per pound, which is almost double the cost of alfalfa, says Geertson.
“The persistence of kura clover may be a large enough benefit that it would make up for the high establishment costs and low yield,” says Albrecht. “We”re not sure.”

Beginning in 1997, trials at the Lancaster Agricultural Research Station will compare kura clover with other legumes in pasture systems. The research will determine animal performance and the cost of pasture establishment and maintenance compared with other pasture systems.