Natural Resources Conservation Service /
Pasture
Planting
Helping People Help the Land
BryanZone Job Sheet – 512-AB-L6
Revised 3/07
Overton R18 Rose Clover
Background- Overton R18 rose clover cultivarwas developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This new cultivar was released to the public for seed production in 1991 and commercial seed were first available in the fall of 1992.
Adaptation- Overton R18 rose clover is adapted to upland soils in the eastern one-half of Texas and Oklahoma and across the U.S. southern region. Rose clover is not adapted to bottomland or any poorly drained soils. Overton R18 rose clover is very cold tolerant and has survived winter temperatures of 0 degrees F. Forage production trials in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia indicate that Overton R18 rose clover has the same yield potential as crimson or arrowleaf clover. In east Texas this cultivar of rose clover can be over-seeded on warm-season perennial grass sods in October and grazed from March through May. Overton R18 is more winter-dormant than crimson clover and produces less forage in winter and early spring than crimson. Peak flowering of Overton R18 rose clover occurs around May 7, three weeks later than crimson clover. Seed of Overton R18 will mature by mid to late June.
Establishment- Select well-drained, upland planting sites for Overton R18 and soil test to determine lime and fertilizer requirements. Rose clover will grow in soils with pH ranging form 5.5 to 8.0 but rose clover does respond to lime on acid soils. On sandy soils 1 or 2 lbs of boron (B) per acre is recommended.
Overton R18 should be over-seeded on warm-season perennial grass pastures in late September or October. The seed can be drilled or broadcast but the seed must make good soil contact to ensure seedling survival. Best stands occur when seed are planted one-quarter inch deep or less. Also, the grass should be grazed or mowed to less than 2 inches in height before planting. Overton R18 rose clover should be planted at 15 lb see/acre to obtain a fully productive stand in one year. A more economical practice is to plant 5 lb seed/acre and carefully manage this stand for seed production and reseeding. Forage yields from this low planting rate will be reduced in the first year compared to the higher rate, but will improve as the plants reseed in subsequent years. Overton R18 rose clover is a legume and in combination with Rhizobium bacteria can obtain or fix nitrogen from the air. This trait of legumes is especially valuable in pasture crops grown on infertile soils that are deficient in nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation by forage legumes allows the production of high protein forage and generally improves the soil without the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. Overton R18 seed should be inoculated before planting with an inoculum specific for rose clover. Rose clover should be identified on the bag of inoculum as one of the clovers for which the inoculum is intended. When the stand of clover is established with inoculated seed, the Rhizobiumbecomes established in the soil and nodulate future reseeding stands of clover.
Best Use of Overton R18 Rose Clover- Plant Overton R18 on upland warm-season perennial grass pastures (bermuda, bahia, bluestem, or native) where no other winter forage is grown. This reseeding winter annual clover will provide spring grazing for cattle, high protein browse for deer, and will improve the soil through nitrogen fixation. Removal of cattle or light grazing in late May and early June will help assure seed production and reseeding for the next year. To encourage regrowth, mow or graze the base grass to 2 inches or less in height. Then straight disk, harrow, or use some other implement to barely scratch the surface to increase light reaching the emerging clover plants.
More Information
For more information on Overton R18 rose clover contact Dr. Ray Smith, Clover Breeder, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Overton, TX 75684 (903-834-6191). For information on producing commercial seed, contact Texas Foundation Seed Services, College Station, TX (979- 845-4051).
Source: TAES Overton
Growth Curve for Overton R18 Rose Clover
Actual growth is dependent upon local climate and seasonal variations in temperature and rainfall. Growth curve assumes adequate fertility based on soil test recommendation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGETCenter at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.