Free Nitrogen, Healthier Plots: Why Clover Is Your Secret Weapon
Free Nitrogen, Healthier Plots: Why Clover Is Your Secret Weapon
As planting season winds down and deer activity ramps up, many hunters and land managers find themselves glassing food plots, watching how forage holds up under pressure. If you’ve planted small grains like oats, wheat, or triticale, you’ve probably noticed a familiar pattern: dark green growth early on… followed by a gradual fade to pale green or even yellow.
That color shift isn’t just cosmetic, it’s a sign your soil is running low on nitrogen.
Why Nitrogen Disappears So Quickly
Nitrogen is one of the most critical nutrients for plant health, but it’s also highly volatile and water-soluble. That means it doesn’t stick around in the soil for long. Rain, irrigation, and microbial activity can leach it away faster than you’d expect, leaving your grain crops hungry just when they need it most.
The Clover Advantage: Free Nitrogen from the Air
Clover's ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available nitrogen significantly benefits soil health and is a valuable soil management tool. It is FREE nitrogen fertilizer. The grain crop will continuously utilize the nitrogen supplied by Imperial Clover, and you’ll notice this benefit as your crop remains green and healthy into spring.
Save Time, Save Money, Grow Better
This practice eliminates the need for a second nitrogen application,saving both time and money. Deer are going to seek the most nutritious and palatable plots, so even if your goal is for the plot to be an annual, the nitrogen-producing benefits of clover make this practice worth it.
More Nutrition, More Attraction
Deer will gravitate toward the most nutritious, palatable forage available. A plot that stays green and nutrient-rich longer will outperform neighboring options—especially during late-season stress. Even if your plot is intended as an annual, pairing it with clover boosts its appeal and resilience.
Keep your plots thriving, your deer coming back, and your soil working smarter—not harder. Clover isn’t just a cover crop—it’s your ticket to better forage and better results.
