Integrating Microclover with Turfgrass to Develop a More Enviromentally Sustainable Turfgrass Ecosystem.

Sustainability and reduced cultural inputs in turfgrass management are becoming a more important issue in the green movement in our society.  White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) is considered an undesirable species in turfgrass swards.  There are potential benefits to the inclusion of legumes in turfgrass mixtures to increase sustainability by reducing cultural inputs.  Clover is a legume that serves as a host for soil-borne bacteria (Rhizobia spp.) that biologically fix nitrogen and symbiotically transfer nitrogen to associated grasses. Microclover-TM is a cultivar (Trifolium repens sylvatica) of white clover touted to flower less and be more diminutive in growth habit resulting in better compatibility /quality in turfgrass swards than traditional white clover. Preliminary data shows an apparent enhancement in turfgrass color/quality and reduction in weed encroachment when micoclover is included in the sward. There were differences in the dynamics of the microclover composition between tall fescue and kentucky bluegrass during establishment and beyond.