Description Type: Annual Legume Usage: Pasture, Deer Plot, Fertilizer Substitute Height: up to 36″ Planting Dates: Feb, Mar, April Sept- Oct 15 Seeding Rate: Pure Stand 5-8 lbs/acre (it is coated seed) Mix with Grasses 3-5 lbs/acre (it is coated seed) Established Grass Pasture 3/4 lbs/acre (it is coated seed) Balansa clover is a high-yielding annual legume able to tolerate a wide range of soils. It produces significant amounts of nitrogen, ideal for cover crops and animal feed. It may be cut for stored forage or grazed. It is highly digestible, and adapted to rotational grazing. This clover can also take close grazing, even when young. Abundant flowers attract pollinators while hard seed production provides natural reseeding. Grows Like No Other Initially, Balansa forms a small, multi-branched rosette emerging from a single, deep taproot. Under a grazing regime, it will remain prostrate. However, allowed to grow, the stems will eventually turn upright, forming a multi-branched hollow stem with copious amounts of plant mass up to three feet high. As the plant matures, it will continue to grow and produce blossoms that are very attractive to pollinators. Allowed to seed, it is capable of producing large amounts of regenerative hard seed viable up to three years. Tremendous Tolerance Balansa performs well in an extremely wide range of soils, tolerating pH levels from 4.5-8.0 and able to survive in waterlogged soils and short periods of flooding. A Multipurpose Clover Cover Crop Balansa’s nitrogen production, soil-building root structure, and extensive biomass production make it a top choice for adding to a cover crop mix. It can be combined with grasses, brassicas and other legumes. Balansas have been shown to fix over 100 lbs. N/acre per year. Forage Balansa can be frost seed or broadcast into existing pastures to boost protein levels of forage, while contributing nitrogen to other crops. With excellent digestibility and protein levels in the upper 20’s, it is an ideal component in a small grain/grass/legume sward that can be harvested by grazing, hay or silage. Viper can take close grazing, even when young. Use with other non-legumes will reduce bloat potential. Pollinator/Wildlife Balansa produces abundant flowers. Honeybees and other pollinators love it and so do the deer!
