Establishing Pastures: Seeding Techniques

Table of Contents

1. Cultipacker Seeder
2. Grain Drill and Band Seeding
3. Other Pasture Establishment Recommendations
   • Soil Test
   • Selecting a Seed Mixture
   • Types of Mixtures
   • Seeding Rates
   • Legume Inoculation
   • The Seedbed
   • Weed Control When Seeding Forage Stands
4. Related Links

Cultipacker Seeder

A cultipacker seeder has 2 corrugated rollers with the seed box mounted between the rollers. The first roller makes a groove into which the seed is dropped. The second roller covers the seed by packing soil around it. Cultipacker seeders do not apply fertilizer. It should be broadcast prior to seeding.

Grain Drill and Band Seeding

A drill with a forage seed box can be used quite successfully for seeding forages. Band seeding assures correct placement of both seed and fertilizer. The fertilizer is banded in the soil by the coulters, the seed is dropped on the soil surface 15-25 cm behind the fertilizer and the seed is covered by drag chains or a cultipacker.

New drills (both conventional and no-till) tend to seed in bands. Most older drills can be adapted to carry out band placement. The seed is carried to within 7-10 cm of the soil surface by extended plastic or metal tubes. On some drills, the grass seed box may be remounted on the back of the drill to shorten the length of the seed tubes. The tubes may be: rigidly fastened to the furrow opener to drop the seed 10-12 cm behind the furrow opener or, preferably, fed through short pieces of pipe attached to the footboard. Since the tube vibrates less, there is less scattering of seed than when attached to the furrow opener. Reducing tractor speed to 6 km/hr or less reduces vibration, places the seed over the fertilizer and improves uniformity of depth of seed placement.

To give the seed a shallow covering you can: use drag chains, a chain harrow or a cultipacker pulled behind the drill or preferably by a small, 6 cm wide packing wheel rolling behind each furrow opener. Packing wheels cause less compaction of the soil surface than other options. Erosion problems are reduced while germination and emergence is more rapid and uniform.

Plant nutrients are essential for seedling development and growth. The primary nutrient required is phosphorus, as it stimulates early root and shoot development. Small seeded forages need a large, readily available source of phosphorus after germination and benefit from phosphorus banded below the seed. Where adverse weather conditions occur during establishment, a readily available source of phosphorus is critical. Use the rate of phosphorus indicated by the soil test results. If your soil tests very high in phosphorus, it may not be economical, from a yield increase standpoint, to band phosphate.

Apply a small amount of nitrogen, 15 kg/ha, in addition to any potassium required as indicated by the soil test. Additional applications of phosphorus and potassium may be necessary in late summer. Top dress new seedings, using the results of the soil test as a guide, to insure good winter survival and top yields in the succeeding year.

Related Links

... on forages and pastures, visit Forages and Pastures (OMAF)
... 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)