Cover crop: Crimson clover is commonly used as a
winter or summer annual cover crop in rotation with
vegetables or field crops (Clark, 2007). It can be used
alone or as part of a mixture with other legumes, small
grains, and winter annual grasses. Species commonly
used in mixes with crimson clover include vetches (Vicia
spp.), subclover (Trifolium subterraneum), red clover
(Trifolium pratense), black medick (Medicago lupulina),
oats (Avena sativa), cereal rye (Secale cereale), and
annual ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum). It is
also used as a winter annual reseeding cover crop between
rows in vineyards, berries, and fruit and nut orchards. A
case study in West Virginia showed that a corn silage
crop was more profitable (10% savings) when preceded
by an incorporated crimson clover cover crop than when
side-dressed with a solution of urea and ammonium
nitrate (UAN) at the standard rate of 120 lb/acre
(Wickline and Rayburn, 2008). Given sufficient soil
moisture, crimson clover can also be interseeded with
corn and cotton or vegetable crops such as cantaloupe
right after the last cultivation (Westgate, 1913).