EverGraze Exchange (Online) – Legumes for temperate pastures
This Online EverGraze Exchange discuses the importance of legumes and consideration in selection and establishment of legumes. The focus is on three main streams of legumes used in pastures systems with acid soils in eastern Australia. These include the annual legume Trifolium subterraneum (sub clover) and perennial legumes Medicago sativa (lucerne) and Trifolium repens (white clover). Other legumes commercially available also have roles in this landscape however their application tends to be more specialised. The attributes of these species are also provided.



Why grow pasture legumes?
Nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation of legumes can be calculated by legume dry matter. It is typical of subterranean clover to fix approximately 28 kg of nitrogen for every tonne of above ground legume dry matter. At a urea (46% N) cost of $550 per tonne of product or $1,195 per tonne of N, that is a benefit of $33 for every tonne of legume dry matter. In the Hamilton EverGraze experiment the sub clover content of the perennial ryegrass pastures averaged 25% throughout the year. This equates to 3.1 t/ha of dry matter or 87 kg/ha of nitrogen – equivalent to $104/ha/year.
Two important factors affect the proportion of nitrogen fixed by legumes; (i) how effective the nodulation is and (ii) the level of plant-available soil nitrogen. To ensure effectiveness, it is important to (a) inoculate legume seed with the correct (and fresh) rhizobia (Table 1) and (b) ensure fixed nitrogen is utilised via companion grasses or crops.
Table 1. Rhizobia groups and strain for different pasture legumes
Group (Strain) | Host plants common name |
AL (RRI 128) | Lucerne, strand and disc medic |
AM (WSM 1115) | Annual medics other than strand and disc medic such as barrel medic, burr medic, snail medic, sphere medic, gama medic and murex medic |
B (TA1) | White clover, red clover, strawberry clover and berseem clover |
C (WSM 1325) | Subclover, crimson clover, bladder clover, cupped clover, helmet clover and purple clover, arrowleaf clover, balansa clover, gland, clover and persian clover |
(WSM 1497) | Biserrula |
S (WSM 471) | French serradella and yellow serradella |
(SU 343) | Birdsfoot trefoil |
Legume content
Annual pasture legume cultivars
Soil conditions (pH and Waterlogging)
Seed set and growing season
Hard seed
Insects and disease
Animal health
Cultivar choice
Table 2 Annual legume cultivars.
Cultivar | Growing season | Hard seed | Farming system | Waterlogging tolerant | Acid tolerance | Seed set | Other Attributes |
Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum subterraneum) | |||||||
Izmir | Very Short | H | Phase or Ley | MT | MT | BG | |
Dalkeith | Short | M to H | Phase | MT | MT | BG | |
Urana | Short | M to H | Phase | MT | MT | BG | |
Seaton Park LF | Medium | M | Phase | MT | MT | BG | Tolerant of Phytophthora |
Bindoon | Medium | M | Phase | MT | MT | BG | RLEM tolerance |
York | Medium | M to H | Phase | MT | MT | BG | |
Narrikup | Medium | M | Phase | MT | MT | BG | RLEM tolerance |
Junee | Medium | M | Phase | MT | MT | BG | |
Coolamon | Medium | M | Phase or PP | MT | MT | BG | |
Goulburn | Medium/Long | M | Phase or PP | MT | MT | BG | |
Denmark | Long | L | Phase or PP | MT | MT | BG | |
Rosabrook | Long | M | Phase or PP | MT | MT | BG | RLEM tolerance |
Leura | Very Long | L | PP | MT | MT | BG | |
Subterranean clover (Trifolium s. yanninicum) | |||||||
Riverina | Medium | M | Phase | VT | MT | BG | Tolerant of Phytophthora |
Gosse | Medium/Long | M | Phase | VT | MT | BG | Tolerant of Phytophthora |
Napier | Long | M | Phase or PP | VT | MT | BG | Tolerant of Phytophthora |
Subterranean clover (Trifolium s. brachycalycinum) | |||||||
Mintaro | Short | M | Phase | MT | MS | BG | clay cracking soils |
Rosedale | Medium | M to H | Phase | MT | MS | BG | clay cracking soils |
Antas | Medium | M | Phase or forage | MT | MS | BG | clay cracking soils |
Clare | Long | L | Phase or PP | MT | MS | BG | clay cracking soils |
Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum) | |||||||
Hykon | Short to medium | L to M | Phase | S | MT | AC | Tolerant of clover scorch |
Sardi Rose | Short to medium | L to M | Phase | S | MT | AC | Tolerant of clover scorch |
French serradella (Ornithopus sativus) | |||||||
Erica | Short/Medium | H | Phase or ley | MS | MT | IC | low Mn tolerance |
Cadiz | Medium | VL | Forage | MS | MT | IC | No hard seed |
Margurita | Medium | H | Phase or ley | MS | MT | IC | low Mn tolerance |
Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus) – Can be grazed heavily to clean up weedy paddocks | |||||||
Casbah | Short/Medium | VH | Ley | MS | T | IC | High stocking rates |
Mauro | Medium/Long | VH | Ley | MS | T | IC | High stocking rates |
Yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus) – High tolerance to Al in acid soils | |||||||
Yelbeni | Very Short | VH | Ley | S | VT | IC | High Al tolerance |
Charano | Short | VH | Ley | S | VT | IC | High Al tolerance |
Santorini | Short/Medium | VH | Ley | S | VT | IC | Staggered germination |
Bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum) – Excellent seed set under dry conditions | |||||||
Bartolo | Short/Medium | H | Ley | MT | MS | AC | High seed yields |
Gland clover (Trifolium glanduliferum) – High tolerance to RLEM | |||||||
Prima | Short | M | Phase | T | MT | AC | RLEM tolerant |
Balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) – Waterlogging tolerant | |||||||
Frontier | Short | H | Phase | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Enduro | Short | H | Phase | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Paradana | Medium | H | Phase | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Border | Medium | H | Phase | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Paipan | Medium | H | Phase | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Viper | Long | H | Phase or forage | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Bolta | Long | H | Phase or forage | VT | MT | AC | Has aerenchyma |
Eastern star clover (Trifolium dasyurum) – Susceptible to clover scorch) | |||||||
Sothis | Short | H | Ley or phase | S | MT | AC | Staggered germination |
Arrow leaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) – Excellent fodder crop and retains quality after drying off | |||||||
Cefalu | Medium | H | Forage or phase | MT | MT | AC | Grazing residual |
Zulu | Long | H | Forage or phase | MT | MT | AC | Grazing residual |
Arrotas | Very long | H | Forage | MT | MT | AC | Grazing residual |
Purple clover (Trifolium purpureum) – Excellent fodder crop | |||||||
Electra | Long/Very Long | M-H | Forage or phase | MT | MS | AC | Grazing residual |
Growing season length: Very short (300 mm), Short (400 mm), Short/medium, Medium (500 mm), Long (600 mm) and Very long (>700 mm)
Hard seed descriptors include: L = low (0-15%), M = medium (15-35%), H = High (35 to 60%), VH = VH (> 60%)
Farming system: Phase = pasture is sown after each cropping phase and lasts for 3 to 6 years, Ley = pasture self regenerates after cropping for one to two years, Forage = one year of high production in year of sowing, PP = Permanent pasture.
Waterlogging tolerance: S = susceptible (will die under prolonged waterlogging), MT = mildly tolerant, T = Tolerant, VT = Very tolerant (will survive and produced under prolonged waterlogging).
Acid tolerance: S = Susceptible (plant growth severely reduced at pH 4.8 CaCl), MS = Mildly Susceptible, MT = Mildly Tolerant, T = Tolerant, VT = Very tolerant (plant growth hardly impacted and can withstand high Al stress)
Seed set: BG = Below Ground, IC = In Canopy, AC = Above Canopy. This information can be important for grazing management at flowering and seed set.

Perennial pasture legumes
Lucerne
Lucerne is the most drought tolerant perennial legume and cultivars of this species are chosen based on winter activity (a relative measure of winter growth) and high levels of disease resistance which are often correlated with improved persistence (Table 3). The three largest restrictions on the placement of lucerne in the agricultural landscapes include poor tolerance of acid, waterlogged and/or shallow soils. The root development of lucerne is particularly sensitive to soils with high levels of free aluminium which often occur in low pH soils (< 4.7 CaCl2). In these circumstances lucerne becomes very vulnerable to other stresses such as summer drought or long grazing durations and consequently plants often die from multiple stresses. Waterlogging, if long enough has a more direct effect on lucerne survival, while transient waterlogging often improves the conditions for various root and crown rot disease infections. Both circumstance impact negatively on plant survival. Shallow soils can also impact on lucerne survival by restricting access to soil water and reducing potential root carbohydrate stores. In these circumstances addition stresses of summer drought and long grazing durations can result in significant stand thinning. If these three circumstances are avoided (acid, waterlogged and shallow soils) lucerne is a very effective long lived perennial that is capable of supplying green forage over summer and early autumn during periods when annual legumes do not.
Table 3 Lucerne cultivars
Variety | Winter Growth rating | SAA reaction | BGA reaction | PRR reaction | Anthracnose reaction | SN reaction |
Q31 | 3 | R | MR | HR | HR | HR |
L56 | 5 | HR | HR | HR | HR | HR |
SARDI Five | 5 | HR | HR | HR | HR | R |
Stamina 5 | 5 | HR | R | R | HR | HR |
Aurora | 6 | HR | HR | R | MR | R |
Stamina GT6 | 6 | HR | R | R | HR | HR |
Flairdale | 7 | R | HR | R | LR | R |
Haymaster7 | 7 | HR | HR | HR | MR | R |
L70 | 7 | HR | HR | R | R | R |
Q75 | 7 | HR | R | HR | HR | R |
SARDI Seven | 7 | HR | HR | HR | HR | R |
SARDI 7 Series 2 | 7.5 | HR | HR | HR | HR | R |
SF 714QL | 7 | HR | HR | HR | MR | R |
Trifecta | 7 | R | HR | MR | R | LR |
Aquarius | 8 | R | HR | HR | LR | R |
Hallmark | 8 | HR | R | HR | HR | HR |
Magna 801FQ | 8 | HR | R | HR | MR | R |
Multi Foli-8 | 8 | HR | HR | HR | R | R |
Alfamaster 9TM | 9 | R | MR | MR | R | HR |
L91 | 9 | HR | HR | HR | HR | R |
Sequel HR | 9 | R | R | R | HR | R |
Silverado | 9 | HR | HR | HR | HR | MR |
WL 925HQ | 9 | HR | HR | HR | MR | R |
Cropper 9.5® | 9.5 | HR | HR | HR | MR | R |
Alfamaster 10TM | 10 | R | R | R | MR-R | R |
ML99 Multileaf | 10 | HR | HR | HR | HR | MR |
SARDI Ten | 10 | HR | HR | R | R | R |
SF Force 10 | 10 | HR | HR | HR | MR | R |
- Varieties have been listed where all responses (data) were available to the stresses listed and where no susceptibility occurred.
- Stresses listed include: SAA (spotted alfalfa aphid), BGA (blue-green aphid), PRR (phytophthora root rot), Anthracnose (Colletotrichum crown rot) and SN (stem nematode)
- Pest and disease reaction is as follows: HR = highly resistant; R = resistant; MR = moderately resistant; LR = low resistance; S = susceptible.
- Winter growth rating: 3 to 4 = dormant, 5 = semi-dormant, 6 to 7 = winter active and 8 to 10 = highly winter active.
White Clover
In general terms white clover is classified into large medium and small leaved cultivars. Larger leaved varieties tend to be higher yielding than smaller leaved types. Note that these categories are broad and the characteristics of leaf size and stolon density are continuous (i.e. a variety listed as ‘medium’ leaf size may be between a medium and a large leaf size. The small leaved cultivars with higher stolon density and prostrate habit are more tolerant of sheep grazing while larger leaved types that are more erect are best suited to cattle grazing. Examples of these classifications are present in Table 4.
Table 4. Example of White clover classification
Variety/brand | Main Seed Source |
Large – leaved | |
Haifa | Public variety |
Kopu II | Wrightson Seeds |
Osceola | Wrightson Seeds |
Quest | Seedmark/PlantTech |
Super Haifa | Seed Genetics Australia / Auswest Seeds |
Super Ladino | Seed Genetics Australia / Auswest Seeds |
Waverley | Seedmark/PlantTech |
Will Ladino | PGG Seeds |
Trifol sweet | Michel Belair |
Tamarmax | Seed Distributors |
Medium – large leaved | |
Grasslands NuSiral | PGG |
Grasslands Tribute | PGG |
Bounty | Wrightsons |
Medium – leaved | |
Grasslands Demand | Cropmark Seeds |
Grasslands Huia | Public variety |
Grasslands Pitau | Public variety |
Irrigation | Public variety |
Mink | Heritage Seeds |
Sustain | Heritage Seeds |
Small – leaved, medium stolon density | |
Grasslands Prestige | PGG Seeds |
Grasslands Tahora | Wrightson Seeds |
Star | Seed Distributors |
Grasslands Nomad | PGG |
Alternative perennial legumes
Table 5 Perennial clovers
Rainfall | Species | Fodder conservation | Waterlogging tolerant | Salinity tolerant | Time of greatest production | Comments | |||
Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring | ||||||
> 550 mm | Caucasian clover* | ✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | Performs best at altitudes above 700 m with some summer rainfall | |||
> 600 mm | Talish clover* | ✔ | ✘ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | Excellent cold tolerance and drought tolerance | |||
> 550 mm | Strawberry clover (WA, NSW, Vic) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | Seedlings slow to establish | ||
Alsike clover | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | Tolerates low fertility | |||||
> 600 mm | Red clover | ✔✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | Generally short lived, usually only lasting 2 years | |
> 650 mm | Birdsfoot Trefoil* | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | Performs under low P conditions | |||
> 700 mm | White clover (WA, NSW, Vic) | ✔✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | Needs good summer rainfall |
* Not as yet commercially available


Authors
Steve Clark, Agriculture Victoria, Hamilton
Fiona Baker, Agriculture Victoria, Ellinbank
Graeme Sandral, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Kate Sargeant, formerly Agriculture Victoria, Benalla