In reply to a circular letter on the culture of sweet clover,
approximately 100 county agents and extensive growers of this crop
located in many parts of the West state that this plant is one of the
most alkali-resistant plants grown in their respective districts. In
Crook County, Oreg., a good stand was obtained from April seeding in
1915 on a 20-acre demonstration field of sandy loam bottom land so
strongly alkaline from black alkali that only salt grass was growing on
it before it was planted to sweet clover. This field pastured from 18
to 28 head of calves, cows, and horses from June 1 to October 1 without
being irrigated. Sweet clover generally will grow on soils where salt
grass[6] will survive, and it is very much superior to this grass as
pasture. After the drainage of water-logged land on which there is a
surface accumulation of alkali, it is the common practice in parts of
Utah to grow sweet clover for several years before planting alfalfa. It
is often stated that alkali land will grow less tolerant crops after
sweet clover has been grown on it for a few years. The long roots
will open up the subsoil and cause better drainage, thereby affording
an excellent means for removing the salts from the soil, as they are
readily soluble in water.
[6] _Distichlis spicata_.
NEED OF LIME ON ACID SOILS.
Sweet clover, like many other legumes, requires a soil containing
an abundance of limestone if a maximum growth is to be expected.
Throughout the world it makes a luxuriant growth only on calcareous
soils. On the black prairie limestone soils of Alabama and Mississippi
it grows luxuriantly, although in this region it is very seldom found
on the outcroppings of red clay, which are acid. The distribution
corresponds sharply with the line of demarcation between the black
prairie soils and other soil types. In some places sweet clover makes a
vigorous growth on the Selma chalk (rotten-limestone) soils, while none
is to be found on red post-oak clay but a few yards away; yet sweet
clover will grow on the red post-oak clay after the soil has received
an application of lime. It will thrive on the bald lime-rock spots
and rotten-limestone hills of Mississippi, which are so barren that
practically no other plants will survive. Thus it appears that lime is
essential for the maximum growth of sweet clover in this Region.
The reason for the exceptional growth of sweet clover in north-central
Kentucky is undoubtedly the fact that these soils contain an abundant
supply of limestone. The Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station
states that this area is the only portion of the State where sweet
clover is being grown with general success without applying lime.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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