Establishing Pastures: The Seedbed
Excerpt from Publication 19, Pasture Production, Order
this publication
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Depth of Seeding
- Time of Seeding
- Other Pasture Establishment Recommendations
- Related Links
Introduction
The most important step in establishing forages is seedbed preparation
- a good seedbed is essential for good establishment. The seedbed should
be fine, firm and free of weeds. This allows uniform, shallow placement
of the seed and even coverage to give good seed to soil contact.
Depth of Seeding
Since forage seeds are small, with little energy reserves to grow a shoot
to the soil surface, plant forage seeds close to the soil surface, less
than 1 cm deep. Seeding too deep is one of the major causes of establishment
failures.
Table 2-8. Influence of Seed Depth Placement
on Seedling Emergence (% of Seedling Emergence)
|
Depth (inches)
|
1/2 in.
|
1 in.
|
1 1/2 in.
|
2 in.
|
|
64
|
53
|
45
|
19
|
|
56
|
62
|
22
|
14
|
|
89
|
81
|
39
|
12
|
|
78
|
69
|
51
|
24
|
Source: Bob Fulkerson, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph
Time Of Seeding
Seed pastures in early spring, as cool moist weather is conducive to
good establishment. Late spring seedings generally do not establish well.
The shallowly placed seeds are vulnerable to dry conditions and 1 or 2
warm days can dry the surface soil to a point where seed germination will
be stopped. Young plants with small root systems are stressed by hot,
dry summer conditions and may die.
Planting forage seeds too deep is one of the main causes
of establishment failures.
Most forages can be seeded in the first 2 weeks of August and still develop
well enough to survive the winter if soil moisture conditions are good
at the time of seeding. If conditions are dry, germination is delayed
until there is adequate moisture. This could mean seedlings may not develop
enough to survive winter. Do not seed slow establishing birdsfoot trefoil,
crownvetch, and reed canarygrass in early August. They are likely to produce
reasonable stands only 1 year out of 10.
Related Links
... on forages and pastures, visit Forages
and Pastures (OMAFRA)
... on weed control, order Publication
75 Guide to Weed Control: Forage Crops
... on agronomy for field crops, order Pub.
811 Agronomy Guide for Field Crops: Chapter 3 Forages
... on field crop protection, order Publication
812, Field Crop Protection Guide
... on livestock, visit Livestock
(OMAFRA)
