THERE has been encouragement recently to see the inclusion of clover in swards as a potential solution to the current fertiliser crisis. Stephen Flanagan, CAFRE advisor, explains why: “Clover is a longer term solution to rising fertiliser prices as it converts nitrogen from the air into useable nitrogen for the surrounding plants, i.e., grass, so technically free nitrogen when the soil fertility is correct for pH, phosphorus and potassium.”

One of the downsides is that the sward has to have at least 30% clover content. CAFRE research has shown that under ideal conditions clover can fix up to around 150 kg of free nitrogen per hectare when there is at least 30% clover content. Unfortunately for horse farmers the use of clover at the required levels of 30% for optimum impact are above recommended amounts for horse safety.