What is birdsfoot trefoil good for?

Birdsfoot trefoil is a legume commonly used for grazing, hay, and silage. It has many benefits and uses for livestock and the environment. Some key facts about birdsfoot trefoil:

Key Facts

• Scientific name: Lotus corniculatus
• Type of plant: Perennial legume
• Native to: Europe, Asia, and North Africa
• Growth habit: Low-growing, spreads by rhizomes
• Flowers: Yellow and red, borne on umbrella-like heads
• Leaves: Compound with 5 leaflets resembling a bird’s foot
• Height: 6 inches to 2 feet tall
• Soil: Thrives in well-drained soils, tolerates wet and acidic soils
• Uses: Grazing, hay, silage, cover crop, wildlife habitat

Grazing

One of the primary uses of birdsfoot trefoil is for grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Here are some of the benefits of using it for grazing:

• Highly palatable – livestock find it very appetizing compared to other legumes
• High nutritional value – contains digestible energy and protein
• Persists well under grazing – withstands close grazing due to its low growth habit
• Non-bloating – contains condensed tannins that prevent bloat and other digestive issues
• Drought tolerant – deep taproot enables it to persist during dry conditions
• Reduces parasites – contains tannins that help minimize internal parasites

These characteristics make birdsfoot trefoil an excellent legume choice for rotational grazing systems. It can be grazed continuously during the growing season or rotated with grasses. Many graziers use it in a mix with grasses such as orchardgrass, timothy, or perennial ryegrass. Cattle, sheep, horses, and wildlife utilize birdsfoot trefoil well in pasture mixes.

Grazing Management

Proper grazing management is important to maintain a productive stand of birdsfoot trefoil. Recommendations include:

• Rotational grazing – rotate livestock through paddocks to allow regrowth.
• Avoid overgrazing – leave 3-4 inches of stubble height after grazing.
• Start grazing early – can be grazed 6-8 weeks after spring growth begins.
• Rest periods – allow 3-4 weeks of rest between grazing.
• Reserve for late season – allow trefoil to replenish root reserves.
• Irrigate if possible – irrigation supports growth during drought.

Hay and Silage

In addition to grazing, birdsfoot trefoil is an excellent choice for hay and silage. Benefits include:

• High yields – produces comparable or higher yields than alfalfa.
• High quality – tests high in protein, energy, vitamins.
• Cures well – leaves stay attached to stems and resist shattering.
• Palatability – livestock relish the taste and aroma.
• Reduced risk – contains no toxic compounds if spoiled or moldy.
• Versatile harvest – can be cut for hay, haylage, baleage or silage.

Birdsfoot trefoil can produce 2-4 cuttings per year depending on climate and growing conditions. It should be cut in the early bloom stage for optimal quality. Proper curing is important to preserve nutrients. It can be fed as hay or haylage or ensiled to make nutritious silage.

Yields

Reported dry matter yields per acre for birdsfoot trefoil hay and silage:

Yields depend on soil fertility, moisture, stand age, and harvest management. Irrigation can significantly increase dry matter production.

Soil Health

As a legume, birdsfoot trefoil contributes to soil health in several ways:

• Nitrogen fixation – Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules convert nitrogen from the air into a plant-available form. This provides nitrogen fertilization for itself and grasses growing in association.
• Organic matter – As a perennial, its roots and stubble contribute organic matter to build soils.
• Companion crop – The upright growth habit allows grasses to grow well with it in mixes.
• Break crop – Rotating with other crops helps break pest and disease cycles.
• Reduce runoff – The dense sod prevents soil erosion and nutrient runoff.

These benefits make birdsfoot trefoil a great component in pasture mixes, cover crops, and crop rotations to enhance soil health and sustainability.

Environmental Uses

In addition to agricultural uses, birdsfoot trefoil provides many environmental benefits:

• Erosion control – The fibrous root system prevents soil erosion on roadsides, waterways, mining sites, and other disturbed areas.
• Revegetation – It can be used to revegetate degraded habitats and rebuild soil ecology.
• Phytoremediation – Some types can extract heavy metals and other contaminants from soils.
• Wildlife habitat – Provides food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
• Beautification – The attractive yellow flowers can be used in landscaping mixes.

Birdsfoot trefoil is well-adapted to many restoration and conservation plantings. It establishes quickly and persists well under minimal care.

Establishment

Getting a vigorous stand of birdsfoot trefoil established requires attention to key agronomic factors:

Soil requirements

• Well-drained soil – does not tolerate waterlogged conditions
• pH between 6.0-7.0 – tolerates acidic soils better than other legumes
• Low fertility OK – thrives better in low phosphorus soils unlike many legumes

Planting

• Spring or late summer planting
• Seed at 8-12 lb/acre, no deeper than 1/4 inch
• Roll or cultipack after planting for good seed-soil contact
• Add appropriate Rhizobium inoculant to seed
• Seed with companion grass at low rate

Weed control

• Begin with clean, firm seedbed
• Mow or clip weeds until trefoil established
• Use appropriate herbicide if necessary

The fine seed and slow seedling growth of birdsfoot trefoil require attention to establishment. Weed control is critical for the first 8-10 weeks until an extensive root system develops. Irrigation can be used if possible to improve establishment.

Cultivars

There are many cultivated varieties of birdsfoot trefoil available. These vary in characteristics such as:

• Growth habit – erect, semi-erect, prostrate
• Flower color – yellow, yellow and red
• Maturity – early, late, non-flowering
• Winterhardiness – hardy, semi-hardy, nonhardy
• Disease resistance – fusarium wilt, root rot

Common birdsfoot trefoil cultivars include:

Choose a cultivar suited to your location and intended use – grazing, haying, or conservation uses.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Compared to other legumes, birdsfoot trefoil offers many advantages:

Advantages

• Non-bloating
• High palatability and nutrition
• Excellent drought and grazing tolerance
• Low fertility requirements
• Long stand life – 5 years+
• High yield potential
• Good shade tolerance
• Wildlife and pollinator benefits

Disadvantages

• Slow to establish and compete with weeds
• Short-lived leaves and stems
• Susceptible to alfalfa weevils
• Lower warm season growth
• Poor tolerance of wet soils
• Somewhat lower protein than alfalfa

However, with proper management the advantages of non-bloating quality, yield, and persistence make birdsfoot trefoil an excellent legume for many uses.

Conclusion

In summary, birdsfoot trefoil is a versatile, non-bloating legume that offers many benefits to livestock operations and the environment. Its high quality, yield, and persistence under grazing and harvested for hay or silage make it an excellent legume choice. With proper establishment and management, birdsfoot trefoil can be an extremely valuable component of pastures, hayfields, and conservation plantings.