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Soil Science News and Views Plant and Soil Sciences

1-1983

Seedbed Preparation for Pasture Renovation Seedbed Preparation for Pasture Renovation

Harold B. Rice University of Kentucky

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Repository Citation Repository Citation Rice, Harold B., "Seedbed Preparation for Pasture Renovation" (1983). Soil Science News and Views. 163. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_views/163

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COOPERATIVE 'EXTENSION SERVICE University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

Lex in

e Department of Agronomy

•

oil cie ce News&Views

Why Renovate

Vol . 4 , No, 1, Ja~uary 1983

Seedbed Preparation for Pasture Renovation Harold l3 ,, lUte

In Kentucky renovation has come to mean the re-establishment of l.egumes ' in gr.<tss pastures and meadows . Many acres of grassland do not contain enough legumes ·to fi }{. the amount of nitrogen needed and to improve the nutritional value of the forl'ige, A good stand of white clover, for example, has the capacity to fix about 100 pounds of nitrog~n per acre. Because of this, pastures containing a·round 40 percent clovet' c:an produce about as much meat or milk as grass pastures fert:lliz~d with 150. pounds of nitrogen per acre, For best . results in seeding clovers into grass sods, fields should be renovated in Feb r uary or early March.

Renovation practices can range from simply surface seeding (walking on) legumes with­·out any seedbed preparation to a · complete renovation program that includes disturbing up to 8.0 percent of the present sod, applying lime and fertilizer according tosoil te!=lt, and controlling grass and we.ed competition while legumes are getting established.

Surface Seeding

The surface s~eding method is used for late winter seedings. During this period (mid-Feb. to late Feb.) soil moisture is normally near field capacity , and ''honeycomb" freezes occur which help increase the seed-soil contact. After sowing, use of a drag or spike tooth harrow may improve seed-soil contact. Cattle can also be turned into these fields to tread seeds into the soil surface. If seeding is delayed until March, measures must be tak~n to reduce grass ·competition.

Prepared Seedbed

In late winter and early spring, several tillage implements can be used because freezing and thawing and higher soil moisture content softens the soil and makes it easier to work. Disk harrows, spike tooth harrows, chain drags, etc, ·, can be used effectively at this time ·of year. On pastures with a heavy vegetative cover, there is less dange r in working the soil too wet. Shallow tillage can be performed in late winter long before it is dry enough for other farm work on cultivated ground. This is why pastUt·e renovation can and should ··'be done at. a season when other farm work is not urgent.

The Culk~eor A~rlcuH urt·ls·an Equal Opport u nlty0r~a n l7.atlon with r<'spcc t toc·chlra tlon and employment and lsauthorl7.l'd to pro\1dc rcsearch. edllrattonaJ lnfonna tlon and ollwr scrvtct•s on ly to Individuals and lnsll_tutlons that funct ion ~vtthout rc~ard to race. color. national origin. st·x. rell~lon . a~c and handicap. Inqui ries rrgard tng

·t·ompl t a ncewlth_ ~· tt lcVI and Title VII oft he ClvH f{l~hts A<" I or 1964. Ti lle LX of"th~ Educational Amendmen ts. Sectlon504 ofthrRehablllta llonAct and other related matters s hould be dlrcrtrd to EquaJ Op'portun lty Office. Kenturky Coopt:- ratlve Extension 5<-rvlcc. Unl\'rrslty or Kcntut·ky. Room 5 - 105. ~rl<'uH ural Sc:lcnce Building-North. (...('XIngtun. Krntucky. 40546.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUC KY STATE UNI VERS ITY, U.S: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AN D KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING

• Shallow tillage with a disk or spring tooth harrow proyides a rough, irregular

surface that can ai~ in erosion control and in covering the seed, The roughness will disappear in a . short time, A good stand of clovers can often be obtained with a mini­mum. (40 percent sod disturbance). of seedbed !?reparation; however, for alt'alfa seeding, 80 percent or more of the sod should be disturbed, Rolling or cultipacking is not · necessary on shallow, trashy seedbeds in the spring, because frequent rains will settle loose soil enough for adequate seed-soil contact.

Renovation Seede·rs

According to forage worke:rs· at the University of Kentucky, our farmers should be renovating 2. 25 million acres on pasture each year, Because of the widespread ne.ed for pasture renovation, the demand for mechanized equipment to renovate pastures has led to the development of renovators that can seed and fertilize at the same time. When a con­tact herbicide is used to .kill the existing vegetation, no tillage is required when using one of these machines.

Controlling Grass and Weed Competition

The availability of contact herbicides has made it possible to kill or suppress undesirable species, so that legumes ·can now be established without preparing a seedbed. Fields too rough and rocky for the use of tillage tools can be sprayed uniformly to kill all . existing vegetation or in narrow strips so that some grass, if desired, remains. Contact herbicides used for this purpose sttould be applied prior to, or at time of seed­ing grasses or forage legumes, such as alfalfa, clover and birdsfoot trefoil. Apply only to grazed or mowed pastures which are not more than 2 to 3 .inches in height at the time of treatment. Follow the label directions for use of these products and for res-

• trictions on grazing or feeding the forage produced.

• •

Application of Lime, Fertilizer, and Inoculant

Fields to be renovated with legumes should be soil sampled in order to determine the need for lime and/or fertilizer. If soil pH is below 6.2-6.3, enough lime should be applied to raise it to 6.4. The best time to apply lime and any phosphate or potash which may be necessary is just ahead of seedbed preparation. This allows a shallow incorporation which will be particularly important for lime on strongly acid soils. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be used since it will encourage growth of grass and make it .more difficult to get clover seedlings rapidly established. Clover seed should be inoculated with rhizobia specific for the species, immediately before sowing the seed. This will help ensure good nodulation for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen .