On The Eleventh Day Of Christmas My True Love
Gave To Me
Eleven Pounds Of Clover Seed
Ten Friendship Plants
Nine Li Jujubes
Eight Bags of Mulch
Seven Bags Of TTP Supreme Compost
Six Gambel Oaks
Five Golden Raintrees
Four Earth Worm Castings
Three Trumpet Vines
Two TerraPros®
And
A Partridge In A Pear Tree
New Zealand White Clover (Trifolium repens) is a
perennial nitrogen fixing legume that reaches about 8-12 inches in height. New Zealand White Clover is more
tolerant of heat and drought than larger clovers, is more vigorous, and
tolerates a wide range of soils.
New Zealand White Clover forms a symbiotic relationship with
nitrogen fixing soil bacteria called Rhizobium
trifolii. Rhizobium bacteria are found in root nodules of clover and
other legumes. The Rhizobium bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium
that the plant uses for growth and development. The plant in turn provides a
suitable growth environment (root nodule) as well as other nutrients such as
carbohydrates and protein.
New Zealand White Clover is used as green manure as it fixes
up to 170 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Excess nitrogen is released into the
surrounding soil where associated plants use it for growth and development.
Local Orchards, Valencia County Extension Service, and Homeowners use New
Zealand White Clover under their orchards or vineyards to provide natural
organic nitrogen and reduce or eliminate the need to buy inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.
New Zealand White Clover is also used as “living mulch”. Like other
mulches a surface crop of New Zealand White Clover protects the soil from
drying, high temperatures, chokes out weeds, and the flowers attract beneficial
insects like honeybees (photo).
New Zealand White Clover will grow on most soils but requires regular moisture for growth. This is one reason it is well suited as an orchard or vineyard cover crop because fruit crops require regular moisture for production.
For More Information Call Us At The Store 505-866-5027
or Check Out Our Website At:
Photos & Narrative
By:
Stephen Sain
Staff Plant
Physiologist
Trees That Please Nursery
Serving Retail and
Wholesale Customers
In
Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Lunas, and Belen
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