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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