This annual legume, a native of the Mediterranean region, is also referred to as Egyptian clover and is important in continental and Southern Europe, North Africa and India at different areas on the Southern hemisphere, where it is grown as forage under medium rainfall conditions or under irrigation.
Berseem clover is an erect plant, rather similar in growth to red clover, it is best adapted to neutral to alkaline soils and has some tolerance to saline soils. Although sometimes included in pasture mixtures to increase the protein content of winter feed, it does not withstand grazing well and can be sown by itself as well as in mixtures as a high protein forage for cutting. It distinguishes form Persian clover by its lower dry matter content, somewhat lower fresh yields and later flowering.
Tabor Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) is a certified variety originally from Israel. This variety differs from many other Berseem Clover varieties, as this is a true single cut variety making it the ideal variety for use as a cover crop. On the first cutting (about 90 days from planting) single cut varieties will yield as much as two times the amount of forage when compared multi-cut varieties.
Tabor will not re-grow after cutting like the multi-cut varieties, making it an ideal spring planted cover crop. This annual legume can produce up to 4-6 tons of high quality forage making it an excellent choice for grazing and chopped forage while also suppressing weeds and preventing erosion. Tabor Berseem Clover can produce 100 – 200 kg/ha of Nitrogen once soil reserves are used up. It can be easily established with small grains, thus making it an excellent cover for small grain/corn/soybean rotations. or winter annual.
