In the Great Plains region of the United States, perennial clover living mulch is being explored for the potential benefits of reducing tillage, suppressing weeds, and supplementing soil. Perennial living mulch systems also have the potential to reduce the use of single-use plastic. Research on the use of perennial living mulch in vegetable systems has been limited in the Great Plans, and farmers have expressed interest in trialing this system to improve soil health and reduce erosion by wind and rain. Two vegetable farms, Haroldson Farms in Bruce, SD and Blue Sky Vegetable Company in Worthing, SD, have participated in the on-farm trials since 2023. In collaboration with South Dakota State University, the on-farm trial collaborators were interested in using living mulch to control weeds and reduce the need for plastic. ‘Domino’ white clover (WC) (Trifolium repens), and ‘Dynamite’ red clover (RC) (Trifolium pratense) are the clovers that were selected for the on-farm trials. The clover struggled to grow with the lack of rainfall and was soon overtaken by weeds. Results quickly showed that the lack of moisture had a detrimental effect on the clover’s ability to compete and establish in walkways. A mixture of grasses and broadleaf were observed as the clover declined. Early moisture is essential for the establishment of clover living mulch and be used to its full potential. The planting method of frost seeding would be recommended for future trials to encourage clover germination and establishment before weeds get large enough to compete.
