Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Many grassland areas in the humid northeastern U.S. that are in need of improvement are operated by marginal producers and livestock farmers who do not own the necessary equipment or cannot afford the higher costs involved in complete and/or chemical renovation. This study was designed to (1) compare mechanical defoliation, simulating grazing, of grass sods with an accepted herbicide to suppress competition when sod seeding forage legumes and; (2) determine stand establishment and yields from seed broadcast on the surface in early spring or drilled into the sod four weeks later. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) seed was broadcast on 26 March and drilled on 21 April into bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), sods. Competition from these grasses defoliated 0, 2, or 4 times during the seeding year was compared to suppression by the herbicide pronamide, (3,5-dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynl)benzamide) applied in the fall prior to seeding. Defoliation dates were 15 May and 15 July for the two-and four-cut series, with additional cuts made on 5 June and 26 August for the four-cut treatment. Suppression of the grasses by cutting or with a herbicide was essential for legume establishment and good yields. Four cuts of the grasses improved red clover and trefoil establishment more consistently than herbicide suppression. Year-afterseeding stand density indicated no long-term advantage of drilling seed in the sod, compared to broadcasting it on the surface.
Citation
Holland, Clive and Tesar, M B., "Simulated Grazing Compared to Herbicide Suppression of Grass Competition when Sod Seeding Forage Legumes" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 47.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses6/47)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Simulated Grazing Compared to Herbicide Suppression of Grass Competition when Sod Seeding Forage Legumes
Kyoto Japan
Many grassland areas in the humid northeastern U.S. that are in need of improvement are operated by marginal producers and livestock farmers who do not own the necessary equipment or cannot afford the higher costs involved in complete and/or chemical renovation. This study was designed to (1) compare mechanical defoliation, simulating grazing, of grass sods with an accepted herbicide to suppress competition when sod seeding forage legumes and; (2) determine stand establishment and yields from seed broadcast on the surface in early spring or drilled into the sod four weeks later. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) seed was broadcast on 26 March and drilled on 21 April into bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), sods. Competition from these grasses defoliated 0, 2, or 4 times during the seeding year was compared to suppression by the herbicide pronamide, (3,5-dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynl)benzamide) applied in the fall prior to seeding. Defoliation dates were 15 May and 15 July for the two-and four-cut series, with additional cuts made on 5 June and 26 August for the four-cut treatment. Suppression of the grasses by cutting or with a herbicide was essential for legume establishment and good yields. Four cuts of the grasses improved red clover and trefoil establishment more consistently than herbicide suppression. Year-afterseeding stand density indicated no long-term advantage of drilling seed in the sod, compared to broadcasting it on the surface.
