Characteristics
- Annual
- Sparingly hairy plant
- Leaves: trifoliate, shape and density of foliage similar to alfalfa/lucerne
- Slender, succulent stems with transverse rings
- Height: with support, Egyptian clover can grow up to 1.5 m tall
- Flowers: cream-coloured, at the tip
- Root: spindle-shaped taproot with few lateral roots; main root mass in the uppermost 30 cm
- Susceptible to clover rot
- Rapid growth, good tillering
- Rapid juvenile development, good competitive ability
Environmental needs
- Sensitive to frost and cold; dies off at first frost
- Needs plenty of warmth and moisture
- Prefers heavy to medium heavy, not too dry soils
- Sensitive to excessively low pH values
Use
- As main crop mainly in combination with Lolium varieties
- Timely use is important, as the stem tends to produce lignin
- Catch crop
- Low regrowth
- Suitable mixture component for many other catch crop varieties
- Good hay crop
