Summer Seeding Forages

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Seeding Date
3. Fertility and pH
4. Seedbed Preparation
5. Heaving
6. Weed Control
7. Volunteer Grain
8. Use Recommended Varieties
9. Alfalfa Following Alfalfa
10. No-till
11. Harvest

Introduction

The most reliable time to seed forages is in the spring. With an April or early May seeding, moisture is usually adequate and the legumes are well established for winter survival. However, spring seeding is not always possible due to a number of factors, including wet field conditions.

Summer seeding of alfalfa forage mixtures can be a viable alternative to spring seeding. Fields seeded this summer can be treated as established stands next year with full yield potential. Do not use companion crops with summer seedings. They compete too strongly for available soil moisture and will reduce stand establishment. Summer seedings present a higher risk on heavier soils.

The following are some points to consider regarding successful summer seeding of forages:

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Seeding Date

There are two critical risks associated with summer seeding alfalfa. Seeding too early in the summer increases the risk of hot, dry conditions during germination and seedling development. Summer seedings fail if seeds germinate and then starve for moisture. Seeding too late increases the chance of freeze-up before the alfalfa seedlings are adequately established. Seeding must be done early enough so that the alfalfa can accumulate sufficient root reserves to survive the winter.

Alfalfa needs about 6 weeks of growth after germination to survive the winter, and will generally survive if a crown develops before a killing frost. Although weather and soil condition vary each year, this means recommended summer seeding dates are as follows:
· > 2900 CHU areas - August 10th - 20th
· 2500 - 2900 CHU areas - August 1st - 10th
· < 2500 CHU areas- July 20th - 30th.

Lack of moisture for adequate germination is always a risk. If soil conditions are extremely dry and no rain is in the forecast, abandon your plans for summer seeding.

Most grasses can usually be successfully seeded up to 2 to 3 weeks later than alfalfa. Sufficient growth is desired to prevent erosion. Birdsfoot trefoil and reed canarygrass have slow seedling development, so summer seedings of these species are rarely successful.

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Fertility and pH

Rapid growth and establishment of alfalfa seedlings is important. Apply the required fertilizer and lime according to a soil test. If soil phosphorus levels are low, applying a starter phosphate fertilizer 2 inches below the seed in a band will encourage rapid root growth and establishment. For soils low in pH, lime should be added at least a year in advance to allow for reaction in the soil.

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Seedbed Preparation

Seed to soil contact is important for germination, particularly in dry summer conditions. A loose, lumpy seedbed dries out quickly. A fine seedbed can be more difficult to prepare in August on clay loam soils, compared to loams, sandy loams and silt loams. Soil should be firm enough at planting for a footprint to sink no deeper than 3/8 inch. Packing before seeding can help. Seed shallow (¼ inch) into a firm seedbed. Always pack the soil after seeding. Usually no adjustment is needed in seeding rate.

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Heaving

Summer seedings are more prone to heaving in late winter and early spring, especially if root development was limited due to slow germination or cool fall weather. Avoid summer seeding on heavier soils that have a history of alfalfa heaving.

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Weed Control

Winter annual weeds like pennycress and shepherd's purse can be a common problem. It is not unusual to have to spray early August seedings. If warranted, a low rate of 2,4-DB and MCPA can be used for broadleaf weed control, but be sure that the alfalfa is in the 1 to 4 trifoliate stage. Caution must be used to avoid delaying growth due to the herbicide effect. Refer to OMAFRA Publication 75 "Guide To Weed Control". If these weeds are not controlled, they will show up in the first cut next spring, but should not be a problem after that. Annuals like lambs quarters and pigweed will be killed by fall frosts. Annual grasses are usually not a big problem. Perennials, such as quackgrass, need to be controlled before seeding.

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Volunteer Grain

Competition from volunteer grain can be a serious problem, especially if a lot of light grain went through the combine. Tillage can reduce the problem. If there is enough moisture, a light cultivation will prompt the grain to germinate. A second cultivation 10 days later will destroy much of this grain. Moldboard plowing to bury the grain is more effective than disking, but may dry the soil out too much. In pure alfalfa stands, a grass herbicide can be used.

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Use Recommended Varieties

High performance, disease resistant, fast growing varieties from the Ontario Recommended Variety Performance list should be used. Avoid the less modern, slower growing, less disease resistant varieties. Cheap seed is not always a bargain and can be disappointing.

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Alfalfa Following Alfalfa

Seeding alfalfa after alfalfa is high risk. Old stands of alfalfa release a toxin that reduces the germination and growth of new alfalfa seedlings. This is called "alfalfa autotoxicity". Establishment problems can result if the existing stand was not plowed or sprayed at least 3 weeks before reseeding. These toxins are present for up to 6 months, and are sufficient to permanently reduce new stand yields. For maximum yields, one year of an alternate crop is required. The toxins are not present the first year in new seedings, so seeding failures can be reseeded without an autotoxicity effect.

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No-till

No-till summer seeding can be successful if proper attention is paid to seed placement (seeding equipment) and seedling competition from weeds (weed control). In dry conditions no-till can be a good option to preserve soil moisture. However, using no-till to reseed an existing forage field in August is high risk. In addition to the autotoxicity risk, slugs and disease that may exist in the old sod can damage new seedlings.

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Harvest

Harvesting summer seeded alfalfa in the fall of the establishment year is not recommended. Summer seeded stands should be harvested a little later the following spring than established stands, to allow development of root reserves for strong regrowth.

Summer seeding of alfalfa is an alternative to spring seeding. While summer seeding can work well on lighter soils, it can present a higher risk of heaving on heavier soils. Good management and attention to some of the potential pitfalls is required to minimize the risk of establishment failure.

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