Excessive growth by red clover, Trifolium pratense L., grown for seed interferes with maximum seed production and harvest in Oregon's Willamette Valley. This study was conducted during 1986 and 1987 on red clover cv. Kenland to determine if plant height and dry matter production could be inhibited and seed yields improved with the plant growth regulators (PGRs) uniconazol (XE-1019) and paclobutrazol (Parlay). The effects of different soil-applied and foliar-applied PGRs and application rates on plant height, crop biomass, and yield components of red clover were measured at Corvallis, OR on Woodburn silt-loam (fine-silty mixed mesic Aquultic Argixerolls) soil. Soil-applied PGRs were also managed under single and multiple irrigation regimes in 1986. Under a single irrigation regime in 1986, canopy height was reduced by 32% when XE-1019 was applied at 1.12 kg ai/ha and was reduced by 13% when Parlay was applied at 1.68 kg ai/ha. Averaged over the two-year period, straw yield was reduced 40% with XE-1019 (1.12 kg ai/ha) and by 12% with Parlay (1.68 kg ai/ha). Seed yield was increased by 11% with the lower XE-1019 rate (0.14 kg ai/ha) and was increased by 14% with the higher Parlay rate (1.68 kg ai/ha). Soil-applied PGR treatments reduced canopy height by 25% with XE-1019 (1.12 kg ai/ha) and was reduced by 11% with Parlay (1.68 kg ai/ha) under multiple irrigation in 1986. Straw yield was reduced by 30% with XE-1019 (0.84 kg ai/ha), but Parlay had no effect on straw yield. In addition, seed yield was increased by 8% with XE-1019 (0.56 kg ai/ha) and by 18% with Parlay (1.68 kg ai/ha). Foliar-applied XE-1019 (1.12 kg ai/ha) reduced canopy height by 13% in 1986 and by 25% in 1987, whereas foliar-applied Parlay (1.12 kg ai/ha) reduced canopy height by 9% in 1986 and by 19% in 1987. In 1986, seed yield increases averaged 16% across all 3CE-1019 treatments (0.07 to 1.12 kg ai/ha) and was increased an average of 21% across all Parlay treatments (0.28 to 1.68 kg ai/ha). However, 1987 was drier and warmer than 1986, consequently, foliar-applied XE-1019 reduced seed yields by an average of 23% and Parlay reduced seed yields by an average of 21%. Total dry weight and straw weight were unaffected by foliar-applied PGR treatment in both years. Use of XE-1019 and Parlay in field crop production has the potential to reduce dry matter production and improve seed recovery, but results vary from year to year. These PGRs have the potential to improve seed yields and may be effective in improving harvest conditions by reducing vegetative biomass. / Graduation date: 1995