Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416981
Research Project: Improved Plant Genetic Resources and Methods to ensure Resilient and Productive Rangelands, Pastures, and Turf Landscapes

Location: Forage and Range Research

Title: Clover (Trifolium spp.) Inclusion in Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Lawns

Author
item BOYLE, PAIGE - Utah State University
item KOPP, KELLY - Utah State University
item DAI, XIN - Utah State University
item Bushman, Shaun
item JOHNSON, PAUL - Utah State University
item GROSSL, PAUL - Utah State University

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2024
Publication Date: 7/1/2024
Citation: Boyle, P.E., Kopp, K., Dai, X., Bushman, B.S., Johnson, P.G., Grossl, P. 2024. Clover (Trifolium spp.) Inclusion in Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Lawns. HortScience. 59,7,1020-1026. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17732-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17732-24

Interpretive Summary: Historically, white clover (Trifolium repens) seed was included in turfgrass seed mixtures to provide biodiversity and nitrogen (N) to lawns, but other clovers have not been investigated to the same extent in turfgrass. Each diculture of Kentucky bluegrass and a clover species contained similar or less weed and bare-soil cover, and maintained similar or greater quality compared with bluegrass monocultures, indicating clover and Kentucky bluegrass dicultures are suitable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass monoculture lawns, and can potentially lead to reduced fertilizer and pesticide requirements.

Technical Abstract: Historically, white clover (Trifolium repens) seed was included in turfgrass seed mixtures to provide biodiversity and nitrogen (N) to lawns. White clover dicultures have been studied recently for inclusion in both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses, with the goals of reducing fertilizer applications and providing pollinator forage in lawns; however, other clovers have not been as widely researched in turfgrass. The objectives of this study were to evaluate 1) if white, strawberry (T. fragiferum), crimson (T. incarnatum), and rose (T. hirtum) clovers can persist in dicultures with Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis); 2) if clover inclusion in dicultures impacts broadleaf weed cover; and 3) if low levels of N fertilization impact clover persistence or quality of clover–bluegrass dicultures. Kentucky bluegrass was grown as a monoculture or as a diculture with each of the four clover species. Each mono- or diculture was then treated with a low rate of N fertilizer (48.8 kg·ha–1 N) or no N fertilizer to determine quality and percentage of grass, clover, or weed and bare-soil cover. Dicultures contained similar or less weed and bare-soil cover, and maintained similar or greater quality compared with bluegrass monocultures, indicating clover and Kentucky bluegrass dicultures are suitable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass monoculture lawns, and can potentially lead to reduced fertilizer and pesticide requirements. Fertilizer generally had no effect on cover, likely because of the low rates of N applied..