Publication Date
1989
Description
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program with the objective to reduce surplus feed grain production in the United States by idling marginal cropland, has already idled nearly 12 million hectares with a target of 32 million hectares. Idled land must be seeded to perennial grasses to help prevent soil erosion. The required grass seeding has caused the cost of grass seed to increase several fold ; therefore, establishment cost could be reduced considerably if seeding rates could be reduced from the present recommended 215 to 323 seeds/m2 (Dodds, 1981). Recommended seeding rates were developed from research on establishment of forage crops (Metcalfe, 1973), which required productivity as soon as possible after seeding for economic reasons. Land in CRP does not need to have maximum productivity in the first year, only a grass stand that will protect against erosion and compete with weeds. Therefore, our objective was to determine what plant density provides near maximum cover when first-year productivity was not required.
Citation
Meyer, D W. and Rugroden, D, "Grass Plan Density for Adequate Conservation Reserve Program Stands" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 42.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session14/42
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grass Plan Density for Adequate Conservation Reserve Program Stands
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program with the objective to reduce surplus feed grain production in the United States by idling marginal cropland, has already idled nearly 12 million hectares with a target of 32 million hectares. Idled land must be seeded to perennial grasses to help prevent soil erosion. The required grass seeding has caused the cost of grass seed to increase several fold ; therefore, establishment cost could be reduced considerably if seeding rates could be reduced from the present recommended 215 to 323 seeds/m2 (Dodds, 1981). Recommended seeding rates were developed from research on establishment of forage crops (Metcalfe, 1973), which required productivity as soon as possible after seeding for economic reasons. Land in CRP does not need to have maximum productivity in the first year, only a grass stand that will protect against erosion and compete with weeds. Therefore, our objective was to determine what plant density provides near maximum cover when first-year productivity was not required.
