As sweet clover is a biennial plant, it lends itself readily to short
rotations. It may be seeded in the spring on winter grain or with
spring grain, the same as red clover. It will produce at least as
much pasturage the following fall as red clover, and in some parts of
the country a cutting of hay may be obtained after the grain harvest.
The following year the plants will produce two cuttings of hay or one
cutting of hay and a seed crop. In some sections of the United States
this plant is replacing red clover in rotations, as it will succeed on
poorer soils than red clover and will add much more humus to the soil.
It will withstand drought better than either red clover or alfalfa,
and on this account its use in rotations may be extended into drier
sections. As a rule the beneficial effect of sweet clover on the
subsequent crops is more marked than that of other legumes. This is
especially true with corn, and whenever possible corn should follow
sweet clover in rotations. Root crops also are benefited by its use in
rotations, as the large deep roots of sweet clover open up the soil.