September 1981
Department of Agronomy an So1
Agric-iltural Experiment Station
Gale 'u Tian, Director
Departmental Series No. 67
Auburn University
Auburn University, Alabama
Perf orma-nce of
4
~7 r
VAR I ET I ES IN ALBMA
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PERFORMANCE OF RED CLOVER VARIETIES 
IN ALABAMA
C. S. Hoveland, R. L. Haaland, 
W. B. Webster, V. H. Calvert II,
R. A. Moore Jr., J. T. Eason, 
M. L. Ruf, L. L. Walker,
H. C. Hoyle, L. A. Smith, 
and H. W. Grimes Jr.I
Red clover is a short-lived but productive perennial forage legume that is
more tolerant of soil acidity than alfalfa. It remains productive for 2 years
in northern Alabama but may persist only 1 year on sandy soils in southern Alabama
where nematodes are a serious problem. Red clover, unlike crimson or arrowleaf,
is not a dependable natural reseeder. Diseases such as southern anthracnose
and powdery mildew can be serious problems, and improved disease resistance is
needed in new varieties.
Red clover is an excellent plant for overseeding tall fescue sod as it
provides high quality grazing well into midsummer and often into autumn. It
can also be planted on prepared land either in a pure stand for hay production
or in mix=tures with small grains and ryegrass where a long grazing season is de-
sired.
Five red clover variety trials were conducted in Alabama during the years
1977-80. Red clover entries were planted in rows 6 inches apart using plots
4 x 20 feet with 4 replications. The tests were planted in late September or
early October and harvested with a flail-type harvester 2 to 4 times each year.
A sample of green forage was collected from each plot at each harvest and was
oven dried for dry matter determination.
"Respectively, Professor (resigned) and Associate Professor (resigned),
Department of Agronomy and Soils; Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent,
Tennessee Valley Substation; Superintendent, Upper Coastal Plain 
Substation;
Superintendent and Associate Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation;
Superintendent and Associate Superintendent, Plant Breeding Unit; 
and
Superintendet and Associate Superintendent, Black Belt Substation.
Red clover entries in the trials were as follows:
Kenland -
Kenstar -
Redland -
Developed by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station
and USDA. This persistent variety, highly resistant to southern
anthracnose, was released in 1947.
Released by the Kentucky Agricultural Experimental Station and USDA
in 1973. This somewhat later maturing variety has greater persis-
tence and more resistance to virus diseases than Kenland.
This southern anthracnose-resistant variety with tolerance to
powdery mildew and northern anthracnose was developed at the
University of Illinois and is marketed by North American Plant
Breeders, Ames, Iowa.
Redman - This variety was selected for improved persistence by Farmers
Forage Research in Indiana.
Redmor - A variety selected for resistance to southern anthracnose and
powdery mildew. Marketed by Huffman Seed Co., in Pennsylvania.
Tristan - Selected for persistence. Resistant to northern but not southern
anthracnose. Marketed by Stanford Seed Co., Buffalo, New York.
Florie - Good resistance to powdery mildew, northern and southern anthracnose.
Late maturing. Adapted for use in southeastern United States.
Northrup King Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mega - Resistant to northern and southern anthracnose, good resistance
to powdery mildew. Northrup King Co..., ...Minneapolis, Minnesota.
KS-110, K8-112, and K4-183 - Unreleased experimental red cloves developed by
Northrup King Co., Minnea olis, Minnesota.
RHA-1 - Local ecotype of red clover that has reseeded for many years on the
Richard H. Arrington farm near Montgomery, Alabama.
RESULTS
Red clover is well adapted to 
northern Alabama. At the Tennessee 
Valley
Substation the top yielding red clover varieties 
the first year were K4-183,
K8-110, and Redland, table 1. Florie, Tristan, 
Kenstar, and Redmor also per-
formed well. During the second year, the 
highest producing entries were K4-183,
Kenland, Kenstar, Florie, Mega, and K8-110, table 
2. RHA-1 was the lowest
yielding entry both years, table 1. There was 
considerable difference among
entries in spring production.
Forage yields were especially high the first year at the Sand 
Mountain
Substation in northeast Alabama, ranging from 
3 to 5 tons per acre, table 3.
Although numerical differences among entries were 
large, there were few sig-
nificant differences. Yields declined the second 
year, a result of severe
drought, table 4. Again, there were few differences 
among varieties.
At the Upper Coastal Plain Substation in northwestern Alabama, 
first-
year yields were somewhat lower than at other northern Alabama locations, table
5. Some varieties, particularly Redman and Redmor, made especially 
early
growth. Total yields were similar for most varieties. Second-year yields
showed' Kenland and Kenstar as 
top producers, table 6.
Red clover yields were somewhat lower and stand persistence was 
reduced
at locations, further south in Alabama. Forage yields at the Plant 
Breeding
Unit in central Alabama on a sandy loam soil were about 2 to 
2 tons per acre,
tables 7 and 8. Kenstar was the top producer both years. Second-year 
pro-
duction was only about one-half that of the top yielder.s. Good second-year
production is an indication that a particular variety 
may be more disease
and/or nematode resistant.
Second-year yields at the*Black Belt Substation in west 
central Alabama
were sharply reduced on many varieties, tables 9 and 10. 
KS-ll0, Redland,
-5-
and Florie were the most productive entries the second season. The poor
persistance of RHA-1 was evident the second year. Its yield was less than
half that of the first year. Powdery mildew was severe on this entry. Two-
year average forage yields at all locations show that the top entries were
K8-110, Kenstar, K4-183, and Florie, table 11. The differences among entries
become more pronounced when average yields for only the second year are
considered. Varieties having the highest second-year production were Kenstar,
K8-110, K4-183, Florie, and Kenland.
SUMMARY
Red clover variety trials were conducted for 2 years at five locations
in northern and central Alabama.
Forage yields were generally higher in northern than central 
Alabama.
Most varieties gave acceptable forage yields during the first year.
Red clover entries having the highest second-year forage yields were
Kenstar, K8-110, K4-183, Florie,and Kenland.
-6-
le 1. First-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Tennessee
Valley Substation, Belle Mina, Alabama, 1978
iety 
Dry forage per acre
A 1i 27 June 9 Jul y 
u~~ t 2 o a
'x.83"........
.110.........
dand.......
ri.....
istan.......
nstar......
-112.......
nland........
.A--I.".. .. 
.. .
V., percent....
Lb.
1,935
2, 184
1, 840
1,323
1,1668
1,455
1,864
1.363
1,1395
1,238
777
860
Lb.
ab*
a
ab
cd
bc
cd
ab
cd
cd
d
a
e
1,879
1,837
1, 652
1,720
1, 731
1, 695
1,5 11
1,495
1,484
1, 272
1,133
1,455
Lb.
a.
ab
be
ab,
ab
ab
cd
cd
cd
e
e
d
2,201
2,009
1,927
2,007
2,034
2,075
1,850
1,858
1, 696
1,822
1,435
1,319
16
a
a
abc
ab
abc
ab
abc
abc
cd
be.
de
de
11
Lb.
942
8 68
967
1, 096
720
904
831
877
1 , 00 0
988
1,355
9 95
be
be
be
b
c
be
be
be
bc
be
a
be
6,957
6, 8 8 8
6,386
6,216
6,153
6,129
6,056
5,593
5,575
5,320
4,700
4, 629
18
*Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different
the 5 percent level.
Planted: Septembe r 14, 1977.
Table 2. Second-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Tennessee
Valley'-Substa t ion.BelleXina, Alabama 1979
Dry f orage per acre
Vaz iety
May'1
Lb .
K4-183 " ".
Kenland. .
Kenstar. .
Florie "
Mega ..
K8-l10 .,.
Redman"-
K8-112
Redland
Tristan"
Redmnor "
RHA-1l .
3,360
2,976
2, 873
3,063
2,857
2, 634
2,704
2,427
2, 469
2,322
2,220
2,492
abc
abcd
ab
abed
bcd
abed
bcd
bcd
cd
d
bed
C.V. , percent 16
June 18
2, 675 a1
2,806 a
2,735 a
2,692 at
2,550 at
2,526 at
2,1214 bc
2,077 c
2,166 be
2,065 c
2,101 c
1,245 d
13
D
b
1be
July 18
Lb.
827 a
717 abc
790 ab
674 be
698 abc
717 abc
584 c
692 abc
667 be
617 c
641 c
463 d
12
August 10 Total
Lb.Lb.
601
566
65 2
5 69
68 6
637
531
581
453
580
5 63
475
19
abc
abc
ab
abc
a
abc
abc
abc
c
abc
abc
be
7,463
73,065
71,050
6,998
6,791
6,514
6,033
5,777
5,755
5,584
5,525
4, 675
12
'Means within a column followed
different at the 5 percent level.
b the sane letter are not significantly
Planted: September 14, 1977.
a
a
a b
b c
b c
b c
be
e
ed
rA
ie
a
ab
ab
ab
abc
abcd
bcd
cd e
cde
de
de-
e
L.:.
..... _.
7-
. .....
irV-LI
rUL-LL-L~~
Table 3. First-year forage yield of red clover varieties 
at Sand Mountain
Substation, CrossvilleAlabam 19
Dry forage per acre
Variety.
K8-112........
Mega
K8-110........
Florie.......
Kenstar.......
K4-183........
Redmor ........
Redman....
Tristan .......
RHA-l.........
Redland .......
K en land ... ...
C.V., percent. .
April 27
Lb .
2 ,7 65 a*
2,1545 a
2,373 a
2,1595 a
2,659 a
2 ,2 02 a
1,1805 a
2,191 a
1,728 a
2,400 a
:2 ,081 a
1,807 a
June 2 6
Lb.
4,714
4,449
4,408
4 ,5 07
41279
4,354
3,973
3, 983
3,606
3,732
3,350
39
August 8 September 12
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
Lb .
1,.713
1, 508
1, 57 0
1,338
1,316
1,490
1,477
1,1276
1,392
1,089
1,124
495
26
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
ab
ab
b
35
Lb,
927 a
752 ab
874 ab
710 ab
788 ab
686 ab'
824 ab
708 ab
591 abc
533 be
351 c
39
*Means within a column followed
different at the 5 percent level.
by the same letter are not significantly
Planted: October 8, 1978.
Table 4. Second-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Sand Mountain
Substation, Crossville, Alabama, 1980
Dry forage per acre
Variety
Ny v7
Lb.
K8-110..........3,541
Kenstar.....3,362
Redmor......3,248
K8-112......%3,00
Tristan.....3,087
Redman......3,026
Florie......2,876
Mega.......2,855
K4-183......2,964
RA-i......2,967
Redland.....2,724
Kenland.....2,118
C.V., percent 
22
a^
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
June 19
Lb.
2,405
2,186
2,247
2,250
2,139
2;059
2 ,248
2,165
1, 993
1,993
1,938
1,606
18
a
ab
a
a
ab
ab
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
b
TotalAugust 8
Lb.
243
23 5
272
246
186
231
192
186
234
194
174
83
36
a
a
a
a
ab
a
ab
ab
a
ab
ab
b
Lb.
.6,189
5, 783
5,767
5,497
5,412
5,316
5,316
5,206
5,191
5 ,0 94
4,836
3 ,807
19
*Means within a column followed by the
different at the 5 percent level.
same letter are not significantly
PDlanted: October 8, 1978.
Total
Lb.
10,110
9,254
91,225
9,150
9,042
8,732
8,208
8,148
7,872
7, 686
7,470
6,003
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
b
27
a
a
a
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
ab
b
L .v . r.
OWN."nown-A
_ 1 _... _ _
KM l~a tJ fhI - -f--- ----I tar ~t +h ~ m af
--
Table 5. First-year forage
Plain
yield of red clover varieties at Upper Coastal
Substation,Winfield, Alabama, 1979
Dry forage per acre
Variety
K8-110.....
Red land....
Redman.....
K4-183....
Florie......
Kens tar.....
Redmor.".....
Tristan......
Mega........*
K8-112.......
BHRA-1l
Kenland......
C.V., percent
1,140
1,170
1,346
1,117
1,035
897
1,233
914
833
930
971
796
abc*
ab
a
abc
abc
bc
ab
abc
be
bc
bc
c
1, 616
1, 591
1, 51 0
1,574
1,541
1,394
1,317
1,531
1,411
1,400
1,400
1,174
21
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
20
2,089
1,93 6
1,782
1,861
1,954
2,120
1,806
1 , 9 67
1,788
1, 808
11,605
1,630
12
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
b
b
239
286
219
237
'256
292
148
80
312
198
169
346
abcde
abc
bcde
bcd e
abcd
abc
ef
f
ab
cde
def
a
LLb.
5,084
4,983
4,857
4,789
4,786
4,703
4,%504
4,1492
4,384
4,336
4,145
33 ,946
a
ab
ab
ab
ab
abc
abc
abc
abc
abc
be
c
11
M ~eans within a column 
followed by'the'same .letter 
are not'significantly
different at the5 
percent level.
* Planted: September 13, 1977.
Table 6. Second-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Upper Coastal Plain
Substat ion, Winf ield, Alabama, 
1980
Dry forage per acre
Variety
Apr il 11
Lb .
Kenland........563
Kenstar.....604
K4-183.........653
K8-110.........556
Florie......... 338
Redland.....439
Mega......452
Rednior.....465
Redman.....524
RA-I......231
K8-112.....290
Tristan........224
C.V., percent. 30
a*
a
a
bcde
abcd
abcd
abc
ab
dc
cde
e
May 5
Lb
613.
8931
8371
8031
1,112
8131
9121
6871
665
7421
8071
8081
17
b
bc
bc
a
be
bc
be
c
bc
bc
June 21
Lb.
2,558 al
2,906 a
2,597 a
2,813 a
2,472. 
a2a
2,342, a'
2,7.60 a'
2,342 a'
2 ,352 a'
2,132 a'
2,069 a'
17
be
,bc
,b
,bc
.bc
,bc
.bc
.bc
.bc
.bc
.bc
August 16
Lb
2,474 a
1,783 b
1,731 b
1,588 b
1,742 b
1,795 b
1,802 b
1,559 b
1,688 b
1,573 b
1,0450 b
1,337 b
30
*Means within a column followed' by'
at the 5 percent level.
the wame letter are not significantly
Planted: September 13, 1977.
-9g-
Total
Lb.
6, 208
6,186
5,818
5,7 60
5,664
5,546
5,508
5,471
5,219
4,898
4, 679
4,430
14
a
a
ab
ab
abc
abc
abc
abc
abc
bc
bc
c
T~1 _ _I__ ~t 1 (5 ~?
+. . . ". .. .. .. aa v v . . . 1 V + R .
~~IVr~-~~~ rT- T-ICI?~ C ~CI ~- - 2- -___~I I 1
2mom
__
_ __ I ____
Aril .14
Lb.
Na 25
Lb.
June 23
Lb.
August 11
-Lb
,_Total
Table 7. First-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Plant Breeding Unit,
Tallassee, Alabama, 1978
Dry forage per acre
Variety'
May 5 June 12 .August 22 Total
Kenstar.......
Redman.......
Redland......
K4-183 .....
Florie ........
K8-110 ........
Redmor ........
Mega.,...
K8-112 ........
C.V., percent..
Lb.
1,868
1,952
1,798
1,7791
1,17092
1,668
2,029
1,1586
12
abc*
ab
abc
bc
be
ab
bc
C
Lb "
1,658
1, 602
1,729
1,428
1,623
1,546
13,268
1,332
1,333
15
ab
abc
a
abc
abc
abc
c
bc
bc
Lb.
1,389 abc
1,308 bcd
1,157 bcde
1,436 ab
1,,093 cde
1,190 bcd
1,057 de
1,060-de
873 e
16
*Means in a column followed by
at the 5 percent level.
the same letter are not significantly different
Planted: September- 27, 1977.
Table 8. Second-year forage yield of -red cloverx'varieties at Plant Breeding
'nit, Tallassee,Alabama, 1979-
Va iety
Kenstar
K8-ll0
K4-183
Red land
Florid
Redman
Mega "
Redmor
K8-112
Dry forage yield per acre
_, N. ay. 
8
Lb.
.......... 2,897
.......... 2,682
.......... 2,135
......... 23,039
.......... 1,520
.......1,809
.......... 1,394
........1,503
...........11,125
a*
a
ab
ab
b
ab
b
b
b
C.V., percent 46
June 15
Lb.
2,032 al
2,030 al
2,5200 a
1,792 al
1,708 al
1,1297 c
1,392 be
1,221 c
1, 357 b(
26
b
b
bc
bc
Total
4,929
4,712
4,335
3,831
3,228
3,106
2,786
2,724
2,482
a
ab
ab
ab
bc
bc
c
c
c
40
-10-
Lb.
4,915
4,862
4, 684
4 , 643
4,425
4,404
4,354
4 ,057
3,792
12
a
a
ab
ab
abc
abc
abc
bc
c
L he ame ette arenot igni
*Means wit"1-hin a column followed.by thes" ete r ntsgiicantly-
different atC the 5 percent level.
Planted: September 27, 1977.
. . _
Table 9. First-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Black Belt Substation,
Marion Junction, Alabama, 1978
Dry forage per acre
Variety
May 17 June 23 July 20 Total
Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb.
K-110.........3,092 a* 2,108 ab 678 a 5,878 a
K4-183........ 2,747 a 2,199 a 745 a 5,691 ab
Kenstar ...... 2,904 a 2,057 abc 591 ab 5,552 ab
RHA-1 ....... 3,150 a 1,938 abc 416 b 5,504 ab
Redland....... 2,864 a 1,819 bcd 638 a 5,321 ab
Florie ....... 2,801 a 1,730 cd 670 a 5,201 ab
Kenland ...... 2,891 a 1,572 d 582 ab 5,045 ab
Redmor ...... 2,862 a 1,551 d 577 ab 4,990 b
Redman ....... 2,530 a 1,783 bcd 666 a 4,979 b
Mega ......... 2,697 a 1,563 d 680 a 4,940 b
K8-112 ...... 2,807 a 1,493 d 627 a 4,927 b
Tristan...... 2,697 a 1,525 d 605 a 4,827 b
C.V., percent.. 14 12 19 10
*Means within a column followed by the same 
letter are not significantly
different at the 5 percent level.
Planted: September 15, 1977.
Table 10. Second-year forage yield of red clover varieties at Black Belt
Substation,Marion Junction, Alabama, 1979
Dry forage per acre
Variety,
May 11 June 14 July 13 Total
Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb.
K8-110 ......... 2,186 a* 1,323 ab 594 ab 4,103 a
Redland ........ 2,083 a 1,533 a 482 abc 4,098 a
Florie ......... 2,162 a 1,223 ab 628 ab 4,013 a
K4-183 ......... 1,841 a 1,171 ab 679 a 3,691 ab
Mega ......... ".. 1,690 a 1,188 ab 658 a 3,536 ab
Kenstar ........ .1,907 a 998 bc 552 abc 3,457 ab
Redman ......... 2,154 a 849 bc 421 bc 3,424 ab
Tristan ........ 1,787 a 963 bc 548 abc 3,298 ab
18-112 ......... 1,752 a 988 bc 549 abc 3,289 ab
Redmor ........... 1,924 a 525 c 548 abc 2,997 ab
Kenland ........ 1,497 a 913 bc 582 ab 2,992 ab
RHA-1 .......... 1,414 a '570 c 367 c 2,351 b
C.V., percent...
*Means within a column followed
different at the 5 percent level.
by the same letter are not significantly
Planted; September 15, 1977.
-11-
Table 11. Two-year average forage yield and second-year average forage yield
of red clover vari-etien.s at f ive locations in Alabama
Dry forage yield p er acre
Variety
K(8-110 ...
Kenstar .. .
K(4-183."
Florie .. "
Red land 0
Redmor """
Mega .....
Redman .
K(8-112..
Tristan .
Kenland .
1RHA-1 ...
Upper
Coastal
Plain
Sub.
Lb.
5,420.
5,440
5,300
5,220
5,260
4,990
4,950
5,040
4,510
4,460
5,080
4,520
Tenn
Valley
Sub.
Lb.
6,700
6,560
7 ,210
6,630
6 ,070
5,790
6,050
5,810
5,680
5,870
5,880
4, 630
Sand
Mountain
Sub.
Lb.
7,710
7,410
6,960
7,240
6,150
6,1980
7,230
6,730
7,810
6,640
4,910
6,390
Plant
Breeding
Unit
Lb.
4,560
4,920
4,490
3,830
4,260
4,354
3,420
3,980
3,140
Black
Belt
Sub.
Lb.
4,990
4,500
4, 690
4,610
4,710
3,990
4,240
4,200
4,110
4,060
4,020
3, 920
Two-year
average,
all
locations
Lb.
5,880
5,770
5, 730
5,510
5,290
5,220
5,180
5,150
5,050
5, 260*
4, 970*
4,870*
Second
year-
average,
all
locations
.Lb.
5,460
5,480
5,300
5, 040
4,810
4,500
4,760
4,590
4,340
4,680 *
5, 020*
4, 250*
*Average of four locations.
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