steps to successful no-till establishment of...

Richard Leep1, Dan Undersander2, Paul Peterson3, Doo-Hong Min1,Timothy Harrigan1, and Jerry Grigar4

E x t e n s i o n B u l l e t i n E - 2 8 8 0 • N e w • O c t o b e r 2 0 0 3

Steps to Successful No-tillEstablishment of Forages

1Michigan State University, 2University of Wisconsin, 3University of Minnesota and 4Natural Resources Conservation Service.

No-till seeding means plant-ing forage crops directly

into a field with no additionaltillage performed after harvest-ing the previous crop (usuallycorn, soybean or small grain).No-till seeding also encompassesmethods to renovate and/orreseed pastures without tillage.

No-till plays a key role incarbon sequestration.Carbon sequestration isstoring carbon from theair into the soil. One ofthe key roles in seques-tering more carbon intothe soil is tillage manage-ment. There are severalmethods of tillage in for-age production — conventional till (mold-board plow), minimumtill, ridge till and no-till.Among these tillage prac-tices, no-till has a greaterpotential than other tillage meth-ods to store more carbon in thesoil. Organic matter helps holdsoil nutrients in place so they arenot lost to runoff, erosion andleaching. If left undisturbed overthe period, soil organic mattercan eventually be transformedinto long-lasting humus. If thesoil is tilled, however, soil organic matter will be oxidized

by soil microbial activity and thecarbon will be lost to the atmos-phere as carbon dioxide.

What are the advantages of no-till in forage production? Firstly,no-till maintains a lot of cropresidue that provides a signifi-cant amount of organic matter tothe soil. Crop residues on the soil

surface will reduce topsoil degra-dation, surface runoff and soil erosion. Secondly, no-till makesmore stable soil aggregates thatincrease water- and nutrient-holding capacity and result inpotentially better crop produc-tion. In particular, no-tillincreases microaggregate stabil-ity, which contributes to thehigher biological activity in the

soil than under conventionaltillage. Thirdly, no-till will signif-icantly increase earthworm andbiological populations (particu-larly fungi) that contribute to bet-ter soil physical properties.

In summary, no-till forage estab-lishment improves soil and airquality, minimizes surface runoff

and soil erosion,enhances water quality,and reduces contribu-tions to the greenhousegases effect, particular-ly carbon dioxide. Anadditional economicbenefit is savings infossil fuel costs due toreduced equipmentuse.

Conditions that favorno-till seeding includesloping or highly ero-sive soils, timeliness inplanting, energy sav-

ings, stony soils and access to ano-till drill. No-till seedingfavors moisture conservation.No-till seeding for pasture reno-vation allows for preservation ofsome to all of the existing desir-able sod grasses, reducederosion, greater renovation-yearforage yields and often less weedencroachment than conventionaltillage prior to seeding.

Improving a pasture by no-till seeding legumes into a grass sod.

Steps to Successful No-till Establishment of Forages

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Though no-till was perceived inthe past as being more risky,studies conducted at MichiganState University comparing con-ventional clear seeding (no covercrop) with no-till seeding ofalfalfa 45 days after planting inthe spring showed that clear-seeded plots had a slightly high-er alfalfa plant density, but thedifference disappeared by fall(Table 1). Research in Wisconsincomparing several differentplanting methods including no-

till (Table 2) showed no differ-ence in alfalfa yield or plant den-sity. Minnesota data (Table 3)indicated that red clover consis-tently yielded more during theestablishment year than alfalfawhen no-tilled into grass sodsuppressed with glyphosate, andhigher seeding rates (16 lb/A) ofalfalfa were required to maxi-mize alfalfa establishment via no-till. Other Minnesota workdemonstrated that over a 4-yearperiod after no-till drilling

Conventional 19 12 3.8 2.8

No-till 12 12 3.4 2.8

Table 1. Effect of establishment method on alfalfa plant density and forage yield.

Plant density, first year Forage dry matterEstablishment method June 19 November 20 First-year total Second-year cut 1

-----plants/ft2----- -----tons/acre-----

1. DK/IH 1990 2.87 282 348

2. Chisel 1990 2.90 271 272

3. Moldboard 1990 2.80 265 338

4. No-till 1990 2.58 282 304

1. DK/IH 1991 2.52 252 220

2. Chisel 1991 2.44 103 228

3. Moldboard 1991 2.68 138 236

4. No-till 1991 2.82 223 236

There were no significant differences between no-till and other tillage methods for plant density and alfalfa yields.

Table 2. Effect of tillage method on first-year alfalfa yield and plant density.(Data from Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin.)

Tillage Year Yield Stand 30 to 60 Stand Oct.23days (plants/yd2) (plants/yd2)

Treatments consisted of (1) disk, seed with IH grain drill, (2) chisel and seed with Brillion seeder, (3) moldboard plow,disk and seed with Brillion seeder and cultipack, and (4) seed with Lilliston no-till drill.

legumes into a suppressed grasssod, each additional ton of forageassociated with pasture renova-tion cost only around $10 per tonto produce, considerably lessthan the cost to purchase thesame amount of forage as hay(Cuomo et al., 1999). These data,along with producer experienceswith no-till seeding in the three-state area, validate the use of no-till establishment as a viablealternative to conventional seed-ing in forage establishment andpasture renovation.

Red clover 4 1.7 2.9

8 1.6 3.1

12 2.1 3.0

16 2.0 3.0

Alfalfa 4 0.5 1.2

8 0.7 1.3

12 0.7 1.4

16 1.0 1.9

Table 3. Red clover and alfalfa yields during the no-till establishmentyear as influenced by seeding rate and glyphosate rate into a grass sodin Minnesota (average of two locations).(Data from Sheaffer and Swanson, U. of Minnesota).

Rate of glyphosate

Legume Seeding rate 0.5 lb a.i./ac 1.5 lb a.i./ac

Lb/ac Tons DM/acre

The steps given in this publica-tion should help ensure goodstands using no-till establish-ment. Good stands are necessaryfor up to 5-ton or larger yieldsper acre on many sandy loamand loam soils and 6 or moretons per acre on the most fertile,well-drained soils. If naturally


well-drained or tiled, all soilmanagement groups (soil classes1 to 5) and all textures are suit-able for no-till establishment andproduction of alfalfa and otherforage crops such as cool-andwarm-season grasses and otherlegume crops.

Alfalfa AutotoxicityConsiderations

Autotoxicity in alfalfa is aprocess in which establishedalfalfa plants produce chemicalsthat escape into the soil andreduce establishment and growthof adjacent new alfalfa. Negativeeffects of autotoxicity can remainin the field even after the plantsare killed and inhibit growth ofthe new alfalfa if it is planted toosoon after the death of the oldstand. The main effect of alfalfaautotoxicity is reduced develop-ment of the seedling taproot.

Seedings affected by autotoxicitycan be more susceptible to otherstress factors, including seedlingdisease, insects and environmen-tal conditions. Though autotoxic-ity does not always cause standfailure, surviving stands may

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Results for no-till alfalfa are similar tothose for alfalfa established using con-ventional tillage with modern drills.

An established field of alfalfa showing significant stand decline caused from poor internalsoil drainage. The use of tile drainage or selection of another species such as birdsfoottrefoil would be appropriate in this situation.


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have suppressed yield and plantdensity (called "autocondition-ing") compared with normalstands. Research has shownchronic autosuppression causedby autotoxicity to result in reduc-tions in alfalfa plant density andyield for at least three years afterseeding. The best known way toavoid autotoxicity is to use ade-quate rotation intervals forreseeding alfalfa after alfalfa.Though the recommended rota-tion interval varies, the generalconsensus is that at least oneyear between alfalfa crops isnecessary to reduce or eliminatethe harmful effects of auto-toxicity in alfalfa. Thinningalfalfa stands can be no-tillseeded via drilling or frost seed-ing with red clover and/orgrasses to maintain as legumestands or convert to pasture.

Drills and DrillComponents for No-tillEstablishment of Forages

Planting conditions for direct-drill seeding are not as uniformas in conventionally tilled fieldswith a prepared seedbed, butplanting objectives are the same.The drill must open a seed fur-row, place the seed at approxi-mately 1⁄4 to 3⁄4 inch deep, andcover and firm the soil over theseed. Conventional drills aredesigned to sow into tilled, uniform soil conditions. No-tilldrills can operate in tilled fieldsbut are designed for tougher con-ditions such as sods and firmlycompacted, uneven or residue-covered soils. For no-till estab-lishment of small-seededlegumes or grasses, the drill isthe most important piece ofequipment you will use. It mustbe adjusted correctly and be

equipped with coulters, openersand press wheels that will worktogether to handle the planting conditions on your farm.

No-till drills are heavier thanconventional drills. Major com-ponents of no-till drills are thecoulters, furrow openers andpress wheels. These drills havelarge, heavy frames designed toperform well in rough fields andhold additional weight to helpdrive the coulters and openersinto the ground. In tough direct-drill seeding conditions, weightcan be added for good residuecutting and opener penetration.

Planting 1 inch deep or greater isa main cause of stand failure.Adding spacers to the lift cylin-ders can improve depth controland prevent planting too deep intilled soils.

Downward pressure is adjustableaccording to field conditions. Theweight of the drill is transferredto the cutting coulters and theopener assembly through thepressure springs or rubberbuffers. The pressure springs orrubber buffers maintain pressureon the coulters for residue cut-ting and soil penetration yetallow the coulter to trip and resetif it encounters rocks or otherobstructions. If the residue is notcut cleanly, it may bunch up in front of the furrow opener andplug the drill, or the residue mayget pinched into the bottom ofthe seed furrow.

Lime should be spread one year prior to planting.

opens the furrow.Less soil is disturbedthan with a double-disk opener. Bootopeners have hori-zontal wings at thebottom of the openerto cut roots, loosensoil and create a cavi-ty for the seed at thebottom of the seedfurrow.

Depth Adjustmentsfor Coulters andOpeners

Coulter depth adjustments varyamong drills. Depth adjustmentsusually involve moving clips toincrease pressure on the openerrod pressure rings or adjustingthe depth rod on the gauge-presswheel assembly. Depth control isnot as precise with no-till drillsas with row-crop planters, unlessthe drills have depth controlbands on the furrow opener simi-lar to those on a row cropplanter. When planting condi-

If the residue is pinched into theseed furrow and the seed isplaced on top of the residue, seed-soil contact will be poor.The seed may germinate if mois-ture is available, but the residuewill interfere with root develop-ment and emergence will bespotty. Residue pinching is mostlikely to occur when the residuefrom the previous crop is notevenly distributed and heavy ortough residue covers moist orloose soil. Making sure the residue from the previous har-vest is spread evenly over thefield can help solve problems with residue pinning. Aftersmall-grain harvest, it is best tobale and remove the straw orharvest with a combine equippedwith a chaff spreader to improveplanting conditions. In heavyresidue cover, drills perform bestwhen the residue is dry.

Furrow OpenersThree types of furrow openersare commonly used on diskdrills: double-disk openers, single-disk openers and offset


Fluted coulters are used for cutting through crop residue.

Seed opener and press wheel. A no-till drill with fluted coulters for ease in cutting throughcrop residue.

double-disk openers. Double-disk openers create a nice seedfurrow and are durable in stonyground. Single-disk openersrequire a little less down pressurefor soil penetration than doubledisk openers. Because they attackthe soil at a sharper angle thandouble disks, they disturb lesssoil than double-disk openers.Offset double-disk openers com-bine a single smooth coultermounted parallel to the directionof travel with a single-diskopener mounted a few inches off-center to the rear of the smoothcoulter. The smooth coulter cutsthe residue; the angled disk

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tions are good, the coulters canbe set to run at the depth of seedplacement. As long as the residueis being cut, the furrow openerwill be able to place the seednear the desired depth, but theactual depth will vary with soilconditions — placement will beshallower in hard soils and deep-er in soft soils. If the soil is notbeing thrown out of the seed fur-row, the cutting coulter can be setdeeper than the desired depth ofseed placement. Running thecoulters deeper may providemore loose soil for seed coveragebut may cause even more soil tobe thrown from the furrow.

The key to coulter depth is tocheck seed location behind thepress wheels. Measure the amount of soil covering the seed,not the depth from the seed tothe surface of the undisturbedsoil. It is usually difficult to placeseed through the disk openershallower than 3⁄4 inch, whichmay be too deep for small-seed-ed crops such as alfalfa. One possible solution when drilling

small-seeded crops is to redirectthe drop tubes to place the seedin the tilled soil directly in frontof the press wheels rather thandropping the seed through thefurrow opener. The press wheelsthen firm the small seeds into the tilled soil.

Press WheelsPress wheels help provide goodseed-soil contact by pushing seedinto the furrow, closing the fur-row and firming soil over theseed. Press wheels improveemergence in all conditions andgreatly improve emergence indry conditions. Press wheels willdo a better job than a cultipackerof firming the seed furrow indirect-drill systems. The press wheels should match the need ofthe forage crop and the amountof soil loosened.

In tilled fields, dry, loose soilrequires more packing thandamp, cohesive soil. No-till and sod seeding, where little soil

is tilled, requires more concen-trated packing than seeding inloose soil. Some press wheelssimply firm the soil that remainsin the seed furrow; others active-ly move soil into the seed furrow.Rubber press wheels flex as they roll over the ground. This allowsthem to shed sticky, damp soil,which can build up on rigidpress wheels. Narrow presswheels increase pressure over theseed. Wider press wheelsdecrease pressure over the seedbut are unlikely to push seed toodeep in soft soil. The dual 1-inch,V-configured press wheels firmthe soil from the sides and active-ly move loose soil over the seedfurrow. This leaves the soildirectly over the seed furrow loose and slightly elevated andhelps prevent water puddlingand soil crusting over the seedfurrow. This type of press wheelcould dig in or bury small seedsin soft soil.

Some of the most valuable timespent in no-till seeding forages isthe time spent off the tractor

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Fluted coulters need to be adjusted for downward pressure forproper zone tillage.

Adjust downward pressure of press wheels for good soil-seedcontact.


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checking seed placement, seedcoverage and soil firming. Beprepared to experiment andmake whatever changes andadjustments are necessary to getthe job done right.

Weed ManagementNo-till seeding systems, likeother seeding methods, requireperennial weeds to be controlledprior to establishment. Manage-ment of annual weeds followingrow crops or small grains can beaccomplished with selective her-bicides.

The major benefits of weed con-trol in new seedings areimproved forage quality in the first harvest and insuranceagainst stand loss from intenseweed competition. Weeds shouldbe controlled during the first 60days after emergence to preventloss of stands. In conventionaltillage, weeds present at plantingare killed by tillage during finalseedbed preparation. With no-till

seeding, vegetation control mustbe done with herbicides.

Annual weed control is accom-plished before planting withburndown herbicides such as paraquat or glyphosate products.The required rate varies withweed species and size. Refer tothe product labels for details.Glyphosate products are pre-ferred if perennial weeds arepresent. Fields with seriousperennial weed problems shouldnot be no-till planted with foragegrass or legume crops.

Perennial weeds should be con-trolled in the previous crop or inthe fall before a spring seeding.Herbicide options in the fallinclude glyphosate products, 2,4-D amine, or a combination ofa glyphosate product plus 2,4-Damine. Do not apply 2,4-D aminein the spring prior to springplanting.

The need for a burndown herbi-cide depends on the presence ofweeds at planting time. If no

weeds are present, a burndownherbicide is not needed. Previousstudies in Michigan, Minnesotaand Wisconsin have shown thatusing herbicides at planting andsubsequent selective post-emergence herbicides can signifi-cantly increase the alfalfa per-centage and forage quality in thefirst harvest (Table 5) if weedsare present at planting time,regardless of species or size. Allof the herbicides listed for poste-mergence application can beused in all tillage systems,including no-till seeding. A limit-ed number of selective post-emergence herbicides are avail-able for no-till alfalfa. Herbicideuse recommendations for no-tillestablishment of forages can befound in the “Weed ControlGuide for Field Crops”,Extension bulletin E-434 (forMichigan), or “Pest Managementin Field Crops”, A3646(Wisconsin), or “Cultural andChemical Weed Control in FieldCrops”, BU-03157 (Minnesota).

Tons/A % Tons/A % Tons/A % Tons/A %

None 2.4 18 0.9 65 0.5 94 2.6 92

Paraquat 1.5 57 1.2 68 0.6 89 2.8 86

Paraquat +2,4-DB 1.4 92 1.4 62 0.8 97 2.8 97

Table 5. Forage yield and composition of no-till alfalfa as affected by herbicides.

First year Second yearCut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Cut 1Total Total Total Total

Herbicide forage Alfalfa forage Alfalfa forage Alfalfa forage Alfalfa

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No-till Seeding intoExisting Pastures Often it may not be necessary todestroy an existing pasture withherbicides, especially if it is com-prised of preferred grasses.When interseeding with eithergrasses or legumes, it is impor-tant to select species such as redclover, perennial and annual rye-grass, festulolium and orchard-grass, which have some toleranceto shading — existing pasturespecies will compete for sunlightand shade new seedlings. Closegrazing of pastures in the previ-ous fall followed by early springinterseeding and rotational graz-ing will help reduce competitionfrom the existing sod. Legumeand grass species that work wellwith interseeding include Italianryegrass, perennial ryegrass,orchardgrass and red clover. Interseeding often will help to fillin thin stands in pastures.

Some Minnesota researchdemonstrated the importance ofsod suppression in achieving acceptable stands of legumesduring pasture renovation (Table 6). Even the slow develop-ing Kura clover established aslong as a suppression rate ofglyphosate was used prior to no-till drilling.

Close grazing in the fall andearly spring prior to no-till seed-ing, together with hoof trafficduring the first 5 to 7 days after

seeding, can often provide goodestablishment of legumes such asred clover and grasses such asperennial ryegrass with goodseedling vigor. When no-tillingslower establishing species intograss sods, howev-er, using a suppres-sion rate ofglyphosate willimprove establish-ment success rate.

SeedingDates Alfalfa, grasses andother legumes canbe seeded in Aprilwhen soil moistureis conducive forplanter operation.Seeding thelegumes in thesummer is anotheralternative. Mostforage legumesshould be planted

by August 1 in northern regionsand August 15 in southernregions (Figure 1). Forage grassescan be seeded in either the springor summer. Late summer seedingof forage grasses is often more

Alfalfa 52 4

Birdsfoot trefoil 33 0

Kura clover 25 1

Red clover 42 2

LSD (0.05) 3.6

Table 6. Influence of sod suppression with glyphosate (0.55 lb a.i./A)on establishment of legumes in grass pasture in western Minnesota(averaged over 2 years, two sampling dates and four no-till plantingmethods) (Cuomo et al., 2001).

Sod suppression No suppression

Percent stand

spring seeding dates

late-summer seeding dates

May 1–30

April 15–May 15

April 1–30

March 15–April 15

July 20–August 1

August 1–15

September 1–15

August 15–Sept. 1

spring seeding preferred

late-summer seeding preferred

Figure 1. Preferred seeding dates for legumes.


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successful than spring seedingsbecause there is less weed pres-sure at this time and soils arewarm and conducive for quickgermination. Summer-seededgrasses should be planted byAugust 15 in northern areas andby September 1 in southernregions (Figure 2).

Seeding Rates and SpeciesSome forage species are bettersuited to certain soil types thanothers. For example, alfalfa hasan optimum soil pH of 6.8 butwill grow at soil pH 6.0 withreduced yield. Birdsfoot trefoil,red clover, ladino or white clover,however, have an optimum soil

pH of 6 to 6.2and will grow atsoil pH 5.5 withreduced yield. Itis often too diffi-cult or expensiveto change soilcharacteristicssuch as pH orpoor drainage,

Alfalfa Moderate High Low Low Moderate-high

Birdsfoot trefoil Low Moderate High High Moderate

Red clover High Low Moderate Moderate High

Ladino clover Moderate Low High Moderate High

White clover Moderate Low High Moderate High

Kura clover Low Low Moderate-high Moderate High

Festulolium High Low Moderate Moderate Moderate

Italian ryegrass High Moderate High Moderate Low

Kentucky bluegrass Moderate Low High Moderate High

Orchardgrass High Moderate Moderate Moderate High

Perennial ryegrass High Low Moderate Moderate Low

Reed canarygrass Low High High High High

Smooth bromegrass High High Moderate Moderate High

Tall fescue High Moderate Moderate High Moderate-high

Timothy Moderate Low Moderate Moderate High

Table 7. Forage species tolerance to soil and environmental limitations.

Crop Seedling Droughty Wet Low pH Winter hardinessVigor (below 6.0.)

but changing species is an easysolution with little or no expense.Matching forage species to soil characteristics not only makesestablishment easier but alsoimproves production over the life of the stand (see Table 7).

Refer to Michigan StateUniversity Extension bulletin E-2307 for more information on forage species and their adapt-ability to Midwest conditions orto "Forage Variety Update forWisconsin", A 1525. The sameinformation can be obtained fromthe following Web sites fromMichigan State University —<http://www.msue.msu.edu/fis/links.htm> — and the Universityof Wisconsin <http://www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/>.

August 1–15

August 15 – August 30

August 30 – September 15

September 15–30

Figure 2. Preferred late summer seeding dates for grasses.


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Seeding rates for new stands foreither hay or pasture are given inTable 8. Seeding rates for no-tillseeding are similar to rates forconventional drilling of forages.In general, seeding rates for sin-gle species are heavier becausethere is no competition between forage species. However, whenseeding grasses with legumes,the seeding rate of the grassspecies is usually reduced tominimize competition with thelegume species. This allows thelegume to persist longer.

Drill CalibrationCalibration of drills is importantto ensure stand success. Seedlots vary considerably in size andseeding rates (see Table 9).

You should calibrate the drilleven if the same variety is beingseeded but year and/or lot ofseed has changed. Seed coatingscan be quite variable betweenseed lots. Follow the drill manu-facturer's procedures for drill cal-ibration or Table 10 to obtain anaccurate seeding rate. Table 10provides a handy reference chartto be used in drill calibrationprior to planting.

Alfalfa 12-16 8-12 1/2 Spring or summer

Birdsfoot trefoil 8 6 1/2 Spring

Ladino clover 2 1 1/2 Spring or summer

Red clover 8 -10 6 1/2 Spring or summer

Kura Clover 6 4 1/2 Spring

Smooth bromegrass 12 6 1/2 Spring or summer

Orchardgrass 10 2-4 1/2 Spring or summer

Timothy 6-8 2-4 1/2 Spring or summer

Perennial ryegrass 20-30 2-10 1/2 Spring or summer

Italian ryegrass 20-30 2-10 1/2 Spring

Reed canarygrass 6-8 6 1/2 Spring or summer

Festulolium 20-30 4-10 1/2 Spring or summer

Tall fescue 15 6 1/2 Spring or summer

Sorghum XSudan hybrid 20 1-2 May 15-June 15

Turnip 2 — 1/2 May 15-July 15

Rape 5 1/2-1 May 15-July 15

Table 8. Seeding rates, depths and times for direct drilling forage crops.

Crop Seeding rate per acre (lb) Depth (inches) Planting date

Alone or in a mixture

Table 9. Effect of seed lot onseed flow through planters. (Data from Dan Undersander, Universityof Wisconsin.)

Variety/ Brillion John Deere lot seeder drill

1 18.3 21.4

2 17.0 20.3

3 15.0 16.3

4 13.8 16.3

5 20.8 16.5

6 20.3 16.8

Calibrate Seeder


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Table 10. Seeding ratecalibration chart for 7-inch rowwidth drills.

8 0.00011 0.17

10 0.00013 0.21

12 0.00016 0.26

14 0.00019 0.30

16 0.00021 0.34

18 0.00024 0.38

20 0.00027 0.43

Lb. / A. Lb./ ft. Oz. / 100 ft.

A diet scale is an inexpensive andeffective tool for calibrating seed-ing rates and can be purchased atgrocery stores and pharmaciesfor generally less than $10. It cansave many dollars by preventingover- or under-seeding withexpensive forage seed.

Soil Testing and FertilizerRequirementsTake soil samples after harvest inthe fall or before planting in thespring. Fall sampling is pre-ferred if lime applications areanticipated. Other advantages offall sampling include dry soil(soils are normally drier in thefall than in the spring) and leadtime for planning and fertilizerpurchase. Soil samples taken inthe spring usually test higherthan fall samples, so keep thesampling time the same fromyear to year for long-term comparisons. Fields should be

tested every three years. Thefirst step in sampling is to sizeup the field to be sampled byasking the following questions:Will the field be farmed as a sin-gle unit? Are there any featuresthat would lead you to believethat a portion of the field hasreceived different treatments inthe past, such as liming treat-ments, manure rates or manage-ment practices? What are the dif-

ferent soil types in the area? Arethere any small areas that shouldbe avoided while collecting soil samples?

Sample distribution usuallydepends on the degree of vari-ability in a given area. In relative-ly uniform areas smaller than 20 acres, a composite sample of20 cores taken in a random orzigzag manner is usually

Interseeding into an existing pasture to improve stand density (note bare areas in thepasture.)

A no-till planter showing seed openers and steel press wheels.


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sufficient. Largerareas are usuallysubdivided intosmaller units. Usesoil survey manualsto help you deter-mine types within fields. Check withyour soil-testing lab-oratory to determineits requirements forsample size.

Soil testing equip-ment includes a mapof the soil, a note-book for marking and keepingtrack of samples, a sampling tooland a clean plastic pail for sam-ple collection. Areas of a fieldthat should be avoided or sam-pled separately include water-ways, fencerows or lanes, strawor brush piles, fertilizer bands,sandy ridges and potholes, anddead or back furrows.

Once the 20 samples are taken,mix the samples thoroughly in apail before putting a compositesample into a soil test box tosend to the laboratory. If youneed to dry the samples beforesubmitting them to the laborato-ry, air dry them rather than sub-ject samples to heat.

Non-uniform areas should besubdivided on the basis of obvi-ous differences such as slopeposition or soil type. Soil samplesused for nutrient recommenda-tions should be taken to a depthof 6 inches. When nitrogen fertil-izer is on the surface of no-tillfields for a number of years, the

local Extension officeand ask for a publica-tion on sampling soilsfor fertilizer and limerecommendations.

Cattle grazing in pas-tures with soils low inmagnesium may beprone to grass tetany.When lime is neededon these soils, consid-er using dolomiticlimestone, which willprovide additionalmagnesium.

When selecting a liming material,it is important to understand dif-ferences between them. Lime iscalcium oxide. However, in agri-culture, "lime" is any Ca or Mgcompound capable of neutraliz-ing soil acidity. "Lime require-ment" is the amount of materialneeded to increase the soil pH toa particular point or reduce solu-ble aluminum.

top layer may be more acid thanthe lower part of the profile. It issuggested that two separate sam-ples from a field be taken foranalysis, one from the top to beused for soil pH and lime require-ment only, and the other from theentire soil profile to be used for Pand K recommendations. Formore information on soil sam-pling procedures, contact your

Legume establishment into wheat stubble using a no-till planter.

A no-till drill with coil tine and sod-slicing Baker Boot opener without a disc coulter usedin overseeding pastures.


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"Neutralizing value" or "calciumcarbonate equivalent" compares aliming material to pure calciumcarbonate. Calcite is pure calciumcarbonate and contains 40 per-cent calcium. Dolomite is a mix-ture of calcium and magnesiumcarbonate and contains 21.6 per-cent calcium and 13.1 percentmagnesium. Analyses of lime-stone materials range widely.There are no clear standards forthe term "calcitic or dolomiticlimestone". Generally, if a limingmaterial is greater than 2 percentmagnesium, it is called dolomitic limestone; otherwise it is calledcalcitic limestone. Most limingmaterials are mixtures of calciumand magnesium carbonate.Neutralizing value is usually

variable between 65and 95 percent. Marlis a soft, unconsoli-dated deposit of cal-cium carbonate. It isvery wet and needsto be stockpiled todry before spreading.Its neutralizing valueis between 70 and 90percent. Other mate-rials used in liminginclude slag from theiron industry, fly ashfrom coal burningplants, sludge fromwater treatmentplants, flue dust fromcement plants, limefrom sugar beet pro-cessing plants andlime from papermills. These liming

materials are usually calcitic andare usually quite effective.

Several factors are important inselecting a liming material. Costand availability are important.Magnesium may be necessary ifthe soil tests low in this element.Dolomitic limestone should beused if a soil test shows less than75 lbs/acre of magnesium, if the exchangeable K is greater thanthe exchangeable Mg, or ifexchangeable Mg is less than 3 percent of the sum of exchange-able Ca + Mg + K.

Factors that affect reaction timeof a liming material include par-ticle size and surface area orporosity of the material. If theliming material source is one thatreacts slowly, you must allowmore time before growing a pH-

Collect soil cores with a sampling device like this step-in soil probe.

Collect 20 cores in a random manner and place into aplastic bucket for mixing.


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sensitive crop such as alfalfa.Most states require lime that issold to be labeled to give the per-centage passing 8-, 60- and 100-mesh screens. The fineness fac-tor multiplied by the neutralizingvalue gives a measurement called effective calcium carbon-ate. Although this value is notrequired for labeling in Michi-gan, it is in many other states.Most legumes are sensitive to soilacidity and will not persist underacid soil conditions. If lime isrequired, it should be applied atleast 6 months before directdrilling. Limited research atMichigan State University, Pennsylvania State Universityand the University of Minnesotahas shown surface-applied limecan give beneficial results ifapplied at least 6 months aheadof seeding. Liming to the proper

pH on sandier soils low in phos-phorus is critical to stand estab-lishment success. The maximumamount of lime applied shouldbe no more than 6 tons/acre inone season and no more than 4 tons/acre in one application.Suspending lime in water —referred to as fluid lime — isanother approach to lime appli-cation. Very finely ground limematerials are mixed in a 50/50mix of water and liming materialand spread using spray nozzles.Consequently only a smallamount of lime can be applied at a time. The finely divided limereacts quickly with the soil sothat very low pH soils can becorrected quickly.

Banding phosphorus at plantingcan be very beneficial, accordingto MSU alfalfa research in

Michigan, but most drills are nolonger equipped with band seed-ers, so phosphorus should bebroadcast prior to planting andaccording to soil test recom-mendations. Apply fertilizer asrecommended by the soil test tobring soil nutrient levels to prop-er levels. If the field has receivedmanure applications during theprevious crop, fertilizers may notbe needed, but only a soil test canaccurately measure soil nutrientlevels and prevent poor forageestablishment as a result ofimproper soil fertility.

Insect Control. Insect damage tograss forages during establish-ment is generally not a concern,but insect feeding can devastatelegume forages, especially alfalfa.Potato leafhopper is the primaryinsect of concern. Potato leafhop-pers can reduce the vigor and later performance of alfalfa seed-ings. Proper monitoring and con-trol when the economic thresholdhas been reached are extremelyimportant during alfalfa estab-lishment. When alfalfa is directdrilled into old sods, grasshop-pers can be especially destructiveto new seedings during a dryspell. For more information oninsect control in forages, refer to MSU Extension bulletin E-1582,"Insect and Nematode Control inField and Forage Crops”, avail-able from the MSU BulletinOffice, Michigan State University,East Lansing, MI 48824 ($3).

Red clover successfully established into a grass pasture.


Managing the New SeedingPastures that have been inter-seeded can be grazed periodical-ly, but avoid close grazing of legumes. Several grazing cyclesactually help in legume establish-ment by reducing competitionfrom the grass-es. Observe thenew seedings afew weeks afterplanting to noteprogress ofgrowth andmake changesin grazing orclipping that aidin establish-ment. For newseedings intokilled sods,allow thelegume to beginblooming priorto grazing —this will allowplants to devel-op deep rootsand prevent pulling of plants bygrazing animals. In contrast, no-till seedings into suppressed sodsneed to be "flash" or mob grazedbefore the existing sod complete-ly overtops the developingseedlings to reduce competition.This mob grazing is best donewith a 1- to 3-day grazing period.It should be delayed if soil mois-ture is high to reduce damage todeveloping seedlings. Producers

are often fearful of damagingnew seedlings by early grazingduring pasture renovation, but ifgrazing is managed properly, farfewer seedlings will be damagedby grazing than by excess com-petition from the existing sod.New seedings can be harvestedfor hay or haylage approximately

60 days after plants emerge. Thiswill ensure adequate carbohy-drate root reserves develop in theroots and crowns. If weedsbecome a problem, they can becontrolled either with a herbicideor early harvest.

New seedings of legumes andgrasses should be rested fromSeptember 15 through October 15

to allow the plants to store carbo-hydrates and proteins in theirroot systems. Perennial ryegrass-es do not need the rest period.They should also be grazed short(less than 4 inches) going into thewinter to reduce disease pressureand winterkill.

Follow with top-dress fertiliza-tion as indicatedby soil testresults. As ageneral rule, alfalfa, cloversand birdsfoottrefoil and cool-season grasseswill remove 60pounds ofpotash per tonharvested.Grazing animalsrecycle nearly90 percent ofthe fertilizerback into a pas-ture. Managedrotationalprinciples —

including high density stockingrates, limited grazing time andaccess to water in each paddock— ensure good distribution of manure and even forage con-sumption. If stocking rates arelow or water sources are too faraway, uneven distribution ofmanure will occur with subse-quent poor distribution of plantnutrients.

No-till planting into row crop or small grain stubble usually results in better stands thanplanting into old sod.

15

MICHIGAN STATEU N I V E R S I T Y

EXTENSION

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution. Michigan State University Extension pro-grams and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. • Issued in furtherance ofExtension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperationwith the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Margaret A. Bethel, Extension director, Michigan StateUniversity, E. Lansing, MI 48824. • This information is for educational purposes only. References tocommercial products or trade names do not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias againstthose not mentioned. This bulletin becomes public property upon publication and may be printed ver-batim with credit to MSU. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product orcompany.

New 10:03 - 5M - KMF - LAW, Price $3.00

Thanks to the following for financial assistance in publishingthis bulletin:

1. Consortium for Agriculture Soils Mitigation of GreenhouseGases (CASMGS).

2. Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN)

3. Michigan Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (MGLCI)

Sampling soil.

steps to successful no-till establishment of...

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