4 LEAFLET 17 6, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



although it will thrive in normal soils. The degree of tolerance to 

 high concentration of salts is influenced by temperature, moisture 

 content of the soil, and kind, quantity, and dispersion of salts present. 

 Since one or more of the above conditions may vary widely within a 

 short period, it is impossible to state any definite degree of salt con- 

 centration that this clover will tolerate. Strawberry clover has been 

 observed making a good growth in association witih~saltgrass"and salt 

 sedges in locations where the salt content of the soil was more than 1 

 percent. In established stands plants have survived salt concentra- 



FlGURE 2. 



-A field of strawberry clover. Water stood over this area for 2 

 months in the fall without injuring the plants. 



tion of over 3 percent for long periods during both winter and summer 

 months. Under such concentrations, however, but little growth is 

 made. After the salt concentration is reduced, which may be brought 

 about by flooding, and conditions again become favorable, the plants 

 renew growth. Limited studies have indicated that strawberry 

 clover is more tolerant of soils containing chlorides or sulfates than 

 carbonates or bicarbonates. Experiments have shown that the salt 

 tolerance of seedling plants is greater under cool temperatures than 

 under warm temperatures. 



In general, strawberry clover will make its best growth in wet to 

 moist soils, and its favorable adaptation to such conditions makesTt 

 extremely valuable for large areas in most irrigation projects, where 

 drainage is a limiting factor in crop production. Another valuable 

 characteristic is its ability to survive flooding for 1 to 2 months 

 without the plants being killed (fig. 2). Although it will live under 

 relatively dry conditions and will survive short periods of drought, 



