Red clover. Kirov region

The Kirov region is classified as an area of risky agriculture. Therefore, the focus in agriculture is on livestock and fodder crops. Red clover is the most widespread fodder crop in the field grasslands of the Kirov region. Since fodder fields occupy the majority of the arable land in the region, clover flowers are probably the most abundant flowers in the Kirov region.

Red clover (Latin: Trifolium pratense) is a plant from the genus clover (Trifolium), family Fabaceae (legumes), subfamily Faboideae (Papilionoideae).

The Latin name of the plant translates to "three-leaved," as the three leaves are one of its distinguishing features. Four-leaved clovers, which are famous for being lucky charms, are much rarer.

Clover is of great economic importance to the region due to its high yield and nutritional and fodder value. Clover is a source of biological nitrogen accumulation in the soil. Its roots host bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, which assimilate molecular nitrogen and transfer it to the clover in exchange for carbohydrates. Additionally, clover improves soil fertility, as its deep roots extract potassium, calcium, and phosphorus from deep soil layers and leave them in the upper arable layer.

Red clover began to be cultivated in fields relatively recently, at the end of the XIX century. Mass clover sowing in Vyatka started after the October Revolution. In the Vyatka province, peasants in the Yaransky district were the first to start sowing clover. Initially, peasants grew clover not in fields for fodder, but on well-fertilized lands, "on corners," where manure was spread. The goal was to produce seeds for sale. Perm and Vyatka clover seeds were highly valued on the market for their qualities: winter hardiness, longevity, and high yield.

They are still valued today. Red clover seeds grown in the Kirov region are distributed to neighboring regions and supplied to foreign countries. Clover and grass mixtures based on it are used to prepare high-quality rough and succulent feed for livestock (hay, haylage, silage), enabling the production of high-quality livestock products (meat, milk, and dairy products), for which the Kirov region is renowned.

Clover is a valuable nectar source, but the nectar is accessible only to long-tongued bees and bumblebees. Honey productivity is 6 kg of honey per hectare of crops. The honey is among the best varieties and does not crystallize for a long time.

Clover leaves are used to produce vitamin concentrates and essential oil, which is used in aromatic compositions. Clover is used in salads, green soups, and botvinya (a cold soup). In the past, dried and crushed leaves were added to flour when baking rye bread, and they were also used to prepare sauces and in cheese production.

Additionally, clover can be used to make jam: for this, 300 grams of flower heads are boiled for half an hour in 500 ml of boiling water with the addition of 1 kg of sugar.

The medicinal properties of red clover are determined by its rich chemical composition. In folk medicine, it is used for colds and coughs, inflammation of mucous membranes, allergies, liver diseases, bronchial asthma, weakness, exhaustion, lack of appetite, angina, headaches and dizziness, diabetes, rheumatism, anemia, abscesses, and burns.

In cosmetology, clover-based products are actively used to prepare moisturizing and softening masks for the face and hair.