Good stands and growth cannot be expected on very poor soils. Soil conditions can be improved by adding phosphate and potash fertilizers and manure or by turning under such crops as cowpeas, soybeans, or lespedeza. In many soils of low fertility the use of a complete fertilizer will encourage early seedling growth and establishment. On fertile sods crimson clover may be successfully grown without fertilizer, but on most sods applications of 200 to 400 pounds per acre of phosphate and 50 to 100 pounds of potash pay in obtaining good stands and vigorous growth (fig. 2).

Frequently a single large application of phosphate and potash fertilizer is sufficient to produce two crops of crimson clover before it becomes necessary to make another application. In some soils the addition of such minor elements as boron may improve growth and increase seed yields. Since the need for minor elements varies from place to place, their use should be based on the recommendations of the agricultural experiment station of the State in which the clover is planted.