WHITE CLOVER

White Clover, Trifolium repens, is a perennial legume with most growth in spring, summer and autumn. Suited to a wide range of soils, being relatively tolerant of acidic soils. Useful species on infertile land (provided the soil is well fertilised with phosphorus and sulphur). Suited to short or medium‑term pasture and irrigated areas. For survival, it needs good summer rainfall or irrigation. It has a high nutritive value and some varieties tolerate heavy grazing. Sow on good moisture in mid autumn to early winter (dryland) and /or spring (irrigated and tablelands).

In summary, as a volunteer (rather than a pasture species) white clover is considered to: • have a medium ability to establish amongst existing plants • have a low tolerance to average weed management practices in cropping land use and medium tolerance in intensive land uses • have a short time to seeding (less than one year) • have a high annual seed production and a high ability for volunteers to establish in any land use • reproduce by vegetative means • be unlikely to undergo long distance spread by natural means • be commonly spread long distance by people from dryland and irrigated cropping areas, as well as from intensive land uses • have a limited ability to reduce the establishment or yield of desired plants • have a low ability to reduce the quality of products or services obtained from all land use areas • have no potential to restrict the physical movement of people, animals, vehicles, machinery and/or water • have a low potential to negatively affect the health of animals and/or people • have low potential to act as a reservoir for a range of pests and pathogens • have a low effect upon soil nutrients, salinity, stability and the water table.

Ratings have been given on a State/Territory level for white clover as a weed in agricultural ecosystems and there is a large variation in the ratings (Groves et al., 2003). The State with the highest rating is Queensland, which rates white clover as 5, meaning it is known to be a major problem at 4 or more locations within the State. This is due to its presence as a weed in turf. A rating of 3 is given by New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, which means white clover is naturalised and known to be a minor problem warranting control at 4 or more locations within a State or Territory, with Western Australia actively controlling populations within some parts of the State. White clover has a rating of 1 in South Australia, which means it is naturalised and may be a minor problem but is not considered important enough to warrant control at any location. White clover is noted to be present in Tasmania, where it is not described as an agricultural weed

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray when regrowth occurs from roots and/or runners. May require repeated application to obtain long-term weed control.