Effects of sowing dates on growth, flowering, and yield of crimson clover

To determine the relationship between the growth and development of crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and different sowing dates, the effects of different sowing dates on overwintering status, flowering date, plant height, grass yield, and seed yield were analyzed through field experiments. The results showed that within the range of the sowing dates applied in this experiment, delays in the sowing date led to later emergence and flowering time of crimson clover the next spring, but the growth period was shortened. Sowing before October 22 not only ensures a high crimson clover emergence rate but also that the overwintering rate reaches more than 84%. The highest yield of crimson clover sown on October 15 was 12.01 g per plant; when sown on October 22, the empty crimson clover pod rate was the lowest (15.40%), and the highest seed yield was 0.6632 g per plant. Therefore, sowing on dates from October 15 to October 22 in the Yangzhou region is beneficial for advancing flowering date and ensuring high grass yield and seed yield at harvest.