Melilotus albus Medik

Symbol: 
MEOF
Group: 
Dicot
Family: 
Fabaceae
Description: 

White and yellow-flowered sweetclover are related species that are biennial legumes well-suited to humid and sub-humid temperate climates. Naturalized in the eastern Great Plains. Used mostly for permanent pasture and conservation, but also cut for hay and silage and used for green manure. Does best on soils with moderate to excellent drainage and alkaline pH.

Uses: 
Pasture
Hay
Silage
Soil Improvement (Green manure)
Soil Protection (Cover Crop)
Pollinators

Species Selection Characteristics

Plant Hardiness Zones (cold tolerance): 
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Soil pH Tolerance: 
Moderately acid, 5.6–7.3
Moderately acid to moderately alkaline, 5.6–8.4
Slightly acid to moderately alkaline, 6.1–8.4
Near neutral, 6.1–7.3
Soil Drainage Tolerance: 
moderately well drained
well drained
somewhat excessively drained
excessively drained
Soil Salinity Tolerance: 
Moderately tolerant, 3–6 dS/m

Identification Characteristics

Type: 
Legume
Growth Season: 
Warm

Growth Habit and Stand Life

Growth habit: Upright

Life Cycle: 
Biennial
Short-lived perennial
Summer annual

Climate and Soil Suitability Zones

Climate Tolerances: 

Temperature: Survives in USDA Plant Hardniness Zone 3 (Jan mean min of -40°C, -40°F), and American Horticulture Society Heat Zones 1-9 (<150 days above 86 °F).

Precipitation: Requires 16-36 inches (400-900 mm) of precipitation or irrigation.

Soil Tolerances: 

pH: 5.6-8.4

Soil Drainage: ED-MWD

Salinity: Moderately tolerant, 3-6 dS/m

Cultivars

The majority of marketed seed comes from uncertified lots. Goldtop, Madrid, Norgold and Yukon are the yellow sweetclover releases; while Evergreen and Polara are releases of white sweetclover.

Management Level Required

Suitable Management Level: 
Low

Quality and Antiquality Factors

Quality Factors: 

Unless allowed to get tall and mature with heavy stems, it is easily digested by livestock and is a good source of energy. Like other legumes, it is high in protein.

Anti-quality Factors: 

Sweetclover leaves and flower buds contain a low level toxicant coumarin. May cause bloat. If hay or silage is poorly cured, it can develop mold that converts the coumarin to a more toxic compound called dicoumarin (dicumerol, dicumarin). Feeding moldy sweetclover hay can lead to a fatal hemorrhaging disorder called “sweetclover poisoning”.

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