Forage Establishment

Dr. Ray Smith and Dr. Garry Lacefield

Forage Extension Specialists

University of Kentucky

Establishment BasicsEstablishment Basics

• Site SelectionSite Selection

• Soil Fertility and FertilizationSoil Fertility and Fertilization

• Seedbed PreparationSeedbed Preparation

• Seeding OperationSeeding Operation

• New Stand ManagementNew Stand Management

• Site SelectionSite Selection

• Soil Fertility and FertilizationSoil Fertility and Fertilization

• Seedbed PreparationSeedbed Preparation

• Seeding OperationSeeding Operation

• New Stand ManagementNew Stand Management

Site SelectionSite Selection

Address Soil FertilityAddress Soil FertilityAddress Soil FertilityAddress Soil Fertility

• Soil Test!Soil Test!

• LimeLime

• PhosphorousPhosphorous

• PotassiumPotassium

• Minor nutrientsMinor nutrients

• Discuss practical fertilization.Discuss practical fertilization.

• Soil Test!Soil Test!

• LimeLime

• PhosphorousPhosphorous

• PotassiumPotassium

• Minor nutrientsMinor nutrients

• Discuss practical fertilization.Discuss practical fertilization.

Maintain Phosphorus and Potassium

Maintain Correct Soil pH

Not InoculatedNot Inoculated InoculatedInoculated

PlantingPlantingPlantingPlanting Seed Treatments and Flow RateSeed Treatments and Flow Rate

•Lime Coatings Increase Flow Lime Coatings Increase Flow Rate of SeedRate of Seed•Amount Varies by Coating Amount Varies by Coating Manufacturer and Drill TypeManufacturer and Drill Type•Range of Increase Measured was Range of Increase Measured was

17 to 33% for ‘Tye’-type 17 to 33% for ‘Tye’-type SeederSeeder

•Lime Coatings Increase Flow Lime Coatings Increase Flow Rate of SeedRate of Seed•Amount Varies by Coating Amount Varies by Coating Manufacturer and Drill TypeManufacturer and Drill Type•Range of Increase Measured was Range of Increase Measured was

17 to 33% for ‘Tye’-type 17 to 33% for ‘Tye’-type SeederSeeder

Seeding Rate• He who sows

sparingly shall also reap sparingly

• AGR-18• Forage Pocket

Guide

Seeding Date

• Spring–Legumes

• Fall–Grasses

• AGR-18

Seedbed PreparationSeedbed Preparation

• Prepared seedbed

• No-till + herbicide

• Broadcasting

• Prepared seedbed

• No-till + herbicide

• Broadcasting

Seedbed: Fine and Firm

SeedingDepth

• Shallow!• ¼ to ½ inch

Broadcast Seedings

Good for clover (Frost seeding especially)

• The more bare ground, the better

• Outside force is necessary– Freezing and Thawing– Cattle traffic

• No for Alfalfa (unless prepared seedbed and cultipacking afterwards).

Residue Reduction and Sod Suppression

graze close before seeding

Clover vs. Alfalfa Frost Seeding

CONTROLLING COMPETITIONAfter Germination

Maximizing Success With Broadcast Clover Seedings

• Get soil fertility levels up– Especially P and pH

• Hold back existing grass• Show some dirt!• Get seed out when there are still 4 to 6 weeks

of night temperature below 32 degrees.– Mid-February good goal

• Manage grass competition after emergence

• Get soil fertility levels up– Especially P and pH

• Hold back existing grass• Show some dirt!• Get seed out when there are still 4 to 6 weeks

of night temperature below 32 degrees.– Mid-February good goal

• Manage grass competition after emergence

No-TillNo-Till• Generally always better than ‘frost

seedings”

• Killed sod needed for alfalfa

• Clovers can be drilled into overgrazed sod with success

• Drill setup is crucial

No-Till Drill• More effort and attention to detail• More consistent results

– putting seed in contact with soil

• Can be successful in spring or fall

• Best method for alfalfa and grasses

• Suppress sod and reduce residue

• Calibrate drill prior to seeding

• Check and recheck seeding depth– don’t take somebody’s word– seeding depth should never be deeper

than 1/2”– general rule: if you can’t see a little seed

along slit, then you are going too deep

• Control competition after seeding

Sod Suppression with Herbicide for Alfalfa and Grasses

Sod Suppression with Herbicide for Alfalfa and Grasses

Traditional Spray/Smother/Spray Approach

Double Roundup Application

Alfalfa into Fescue Sod

Alfalfa Into Suppressed Fescue Sod: Green County

Gramoxone – 1.7 pt/acre mid March Gramoxone – 1.0 pt/acre early April Seeded alfalfa within a few days of last spray.

Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Minimum Tillage• Graze pasture hard to reduce residue• Disturb 40-60% of the sod

– light disking, field cultivator or other tillage implement

• Broadcast seed or use conventional drill• Cultipack to get good soil-seed contact• Control competition

– grazing or clipping

Livestock Seeding

• Feed seed to livestock– legumes work better than grass

• Stands not uniform– 4 day rotation it takes 4-5 years to get 1

manure pile/yd2

• Germination high on pat, actual establishment can be low– roots do not penetrate soil

• Seed inoculation is difficult

Don’t Overgraze

New Seedlings

Don’t Overgraze

New Seedlings

Allow stands to get established before heavily used

Reasons Why Seedings FailReasons Why Seedings Fail

• Adverse Weather• Competition• Poor Seedbed

Preparation• Poor Seeding

Techniques• Low Quality Seed• Unadapted Varieties

• Adverse Weather• Competition• Poor Seedbed

Preparation• Poor Seeding

Techniques• Low Quality Seed• Unadapted Varieties

• Seedling Diseases• Insects• Failure to Inoculate• Low Soils and Fertility• Poor Physical

Conditions of Soil• Grazing New Seedings

Early/Excessively

• Seedling Diseases• Insects• Failure to Inoculate• Low Soils and Fertility• Poor Physical

Conditions of Soil• Grazing New Seedings

Early/Excessively