USDA

Special Thanks: Rhonda Miller, Utah State University

Stewardship through ManagementPasture Establishment and Renovation

USDA

Goals Establishment:

planting a pasture where there is no existing pasture

Renovation: a series of actions that lead to a long-term change in the plant composition of a pasture

USDA ARS

Type of renovation Partial renovation

◦ Rejuvenation or enhancement of existing pasture

◦ Conduct if you have a poor forage stand winter injury, drought, weed invasion, etc.

Total renovation◦ Destruction followed by reestablishment of

either the same species or another speciesSpecies - refers to the type of plant, such as alfalfa, sweet clover, smooth bromegrass, etc.

Cultivar - refers to a specific variety within a species. York is a cultivar of smooth bromegrass.

Benefits of renovation Replace old or diseased

pasture species with healthy improved varieties

Extend or increase productivity of pasture

Improve quality of forage Increase animal

productivity Reduce soil erosion Reduce noxious weeds

www.farmphoto.com

When to renovate? Renovate when:

◦ Pasture is in poor condition and even proper management techniques will not improve the

pasture to the desired level

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Factors to consider when establishmenting forage

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Seedbed preparation Seeding methods Seeding guidelines Seeding rates Costs

Forage establishment

Seedbed preparation◦ Seed requirements◦ Tillage ◦ Other forms of seedbed

preparation◦ Fertility and pH

USU, Logan, UT

Seedbed preparationYour goal:

Provide a firm seedbed with just enough loose surface soil for shallow seed placement and good seed-to-soil contact

Seed requirements◦ Adequate soil temperature◦ Moisture◦ Oxygen◦ Seed-to-soil contact

Accomplish by creating a firm, moist seedbed)

A firm, moist seedbed is essential for:

Proper seed placement Good soil-seed contact Successful establishment

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Seedbed preparation

Deep tillage (plow) Disc Roller harrow or

cultipacker

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Proper tillage creates a firm seedbed

Seedbed preparationPurpose of tillage◦ Eliminate existing

vegetation◦ Turn under surface weed

seeds

◦ Loosen soil◦ Incorporate fertilizer ◦ Provide firm seedbed for

seeding

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Other forms of seedbed preparation

Close clipping or grazing

Burning Non-selective

herbicides

USU, Logan, UT

Seedbed preparation: fertility and pH

Base on soil test results Add lime if pH is low Add sulfur if the pH is high Determine a reasonable yield Add appropriate macro-

nutrients◦ Phosphorus and potassium◦ Nitrogen

Forage establishment

Seeding guidelines Planting windows

◦ Late winter to early spring◦ Late summer to early fall

Seeding depth◦ Varies, is species specific

Inoculation of legumes◦ Ensures proper bacteria

present for nitrogen fixationclay.agr.okstate.edu

Why forage seedings fail

Germination through emergence Hard seed Cold temperatures Improper planting depth Seed dries out Crusted soil surface Toxicity - allelopathic effects,

herbicide carryoverclay.agr.okstate.e

du

Why forage seedings fail

After emergence Inappropriate pH Low fertility Poor drainage Drought Insects Diseases, winter kill Inadequate legume inoculation Competition from weeds/companion crops

clay.agr.okstate.edu

Forage establishment

Seeding methods Broadcast Cultipacker Drilled No-till Frost seeding Companion crop

USU

Broadcast seeding

Cheapest and easiest method of seeding

Need to drag or pack the soil after spreading the seed

Tilled seedbed Seed placement not

uniform

www.modernforage.com

Cultipacker seeding Consists of two sets of rollers with

seed boxes between them Commonly used on tilled seedbeds Don’t use on heavy soils

www.faivre.com

Drill seeding Directly plants

each seed into tilled soil at the proper depth

Need to use a forage drill

Grain drills will result in poor seed placement for small forage seeds

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

No-till seeding Plants seed directly into existing vegetation

◦ Solid planting

◦ Band planting

Requires a no-till planter Reduces erosion Conserves soil moisture Reduced fuel, labor, and

time requirementswww.usda.gov

Frost seeding Seed is broadcast in late

winter on soil surface Freezing & thawing action plus

rain will cover seed Works well with red clover

www.freefoto.com

UNCE

Companion crop seedingAdvantages:

Can be cut or grazed for feed Provides a quick ground cover Helps control soil erosion Reduces invasion of weeds

Disadvantages: Competes for nutrients, light and moisture Good management is essential

USDA

Forage establishment

Seeding rates

Desired stand Percent pure live

seed Other factors to

consider

Intermediate wheatgrass seed

Seeding ratesDesired stand varies based on: Forage species planted

◦ Ability to fill in (rhizomes)◦ Mixture, pure-stand, companion crop

Availability of water

Percent pure live seed (PLS)% PLS = % Purity x % Germination

% Purity = % of seed that is the desired forage seed

% Germination = % of seed that germinates when planted

costs: TillageMethod Cost per acre (2012)

Plowing

Moldboard $15 - $30

Chisel $15 - $30

Disc/Harrow

Tandem disc $15 - $30

Harrow/Cultipacker $10 - $30

Planting

Conventional Drill $10 - $15

No-till $15 - $20

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/ABM/custrates.htm

Forage establishment

costs: Seed Grasses - Irrigated (June 2013)

Grasses – Dryland (June 2013)

Species Cost/lb (PLS) Seeding Rate (Drill)

Orchardgrass $2.22/lb 5 lb/acre

Timothy $2.40/lb 3 lb/acre

Tall fescue $1.40/lb 8 lb/acre

Smooth bromegrass $4.50/lb 13 lb/acre

Species Cost/lb Seeding Rate (Drill)

Western wheatgrass $7.50/lb 8 lb/acre

Sideoats grama $15.90/lb 4.5 lb/acre

Prairie junegrass $21.95/lb 1 lb/acre

Blue grama $27.00/lb 1.5 lb/acre

Forage establishment

costs

Reduced yield as stand establishes: Spring seeding

◦ Reduced number of cuttings first year◦ Reduced yield per cutting

Fall seeding◦ No harvest of new crop during establishment◦ Reduced yield of previous crop during year of

establishment Ground preparation Time for establishment

Forage establishment

Additional factors to consider Pasture inventory◦ Land available◦ Climate◦ Soil characteristics

Forage use◦ Livestock◦ Grazing vs. hay production◦ Continuous grazing vs. rotational grazing

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

www.usda.gov

Pasture inventory

Land available

Grazing land◦ Water source(s)◦ Sacrifice area

Hay production

Pasture inventoryClimate Growing season

◦ Frost-free days◦ Growing degree days

(GDD) Temperature Precipitation

Soil characteristics Drainage Water holding capacity

Forage useLivestock Different animals have

different nutritional requirements and forage preferences◦ Horses (timothy)◦ Dairy cattle (perennial ryegrass)◦ Beef cattle (tall fescue)

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Forage use

Grazing vs. hay production Which will be your primary use? Many forages that are good for hay

production are not good for grazing, and vice-versa◦ Upright growth habit - better for hay production◦ Consider trampling effects

www.farmphoto.com

Forage use Continuous grazing

◦ Easy◦ But…yields are reduced

Rotational grazing◦ Requires more

management and infrastructure

◦ But…yields are higher

USDA NRCS

USDA NRCS

Plant characteristics

USDA NRCS

Grasses Legumes

Seasonal growth patternsDisease resistance

Forage qualityPure stands or mixtures

Grasses Growth habit

◦Bunch◦Sod-forming

Stolon Rhizome

Re-growth◦Jointing ◦Non-jointing

Grasses are more tolerant of poor soil conditions

But…grasses require nitrogen source

USDA NRCS

Little bluestem

Legumes Legumes fix nitrogen

from the air Growth habit

◦ Upright (sainfoin)◦ Prostrate (birdsfoot trefoil)

New growth◦ Axillary (sweetclover)◦ Crown (red clover)◦ Axillary & crown (alfalfa)

clay.agr.okstate.edu

Seasonal growth distribution

ISU

Insect and disease resistance and winter hardiness

Genetically inherited traits◦ Select disease-resistant varieties◦ Select varieties with good winter hardiness

Consider the intended years of use

clay.agr.okstate.edu

Forage quality

Affects: Palatability, and thus

amounts consumed Nutritive value

◦ Digestibility◦ Chemical composition

Pure stand Advantages

◦ Management is easier◦ Weed control is easier

Disadvantage◦ Yield can be lower

www.forages.css.orst.edu

Advantages◦ Less nitrogen fertilizer

when legumes present◦ More tolerant of

variation in soil conditions

◦ More competitive against weeds

Mixture

What should I plant?

Disadvantages◦ Difficult grazing mgmt◦ If not managed properly

grasses will dominate◦ More difficult weed control

Principles for composing mixtures

Keep the mixture simple Similar maturity date Similar growth habit Similar palatability

clay.agr.okstate.edu

Cool-season grasses Most productive in the spring and fall

Poor summer production Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses

Characteristics of individualgrasses & legumes

Western wheatgrass

Crested wheatgrass Smooth bromegrass

Warm-season grasses Productive during summer months

Must be suitable for your area Bunchgrasses versus sod-forming grasses

Characteristics of individual grasses & legumes

Prairie sandreedSwitchgrass

Legumes Fix nitrogen from atmosphere

Some may cause bloat

clay.agr.state.edu

Characteristics of individual grasses & legumes

Summary Renovation may be partial or total Partial renovation rejuvenates or

enhances parts of an existing pasture Proper management can aide in

partial renovation Total renovation destroys existing

vegetation then re-establishes better vegetation

Plan ahead!

Homework Determine if your pasture

requires improvement or renovation Determine your goals for the

improvement or renovation project Determine the best and most cost-

effective method to achieve your goals.

Determine the best plants to use for your area and for your goals.