Pogue Agri Partners - Agronomic Assistance (Warm Season Perennial Grasses

Plants selected for seeding depend on management objectives. Many grasses are better suited for grazing and others are more suited for hay production or intense management. Often, mixtures of native and/or introduced species are seeded together, partly as an attempt to simulate natural conditions. Using a mixture is helpful because all areas have variations in soil, moisture and slope, and each species in the mixture is adapted better than other species to certain site characteristics. For instance, variation in rooting habits of species in the mixture allows for more efficient use of moisture and nutrients from the various soil depths. Also, the mixture usually extends the grazing season because each species varies slightly in its period of lush growth and dormancy. Finally, a mixture provides a varied diet that is more desirable to animals.

Under certain conditions, a pure stand of a single species is more desirable. Species low in palatability and needing special management, or species requiring intensive management, should be planted alone. In addition, many introduced species are easier to manage when planted in a pure stand.

Usually, plants best adapted to an area are native ones or adapted strains of introduced or improved species. It is best to select grasses that are growing in the area, so it is important to determine the original source of seeds of native species. When available, use certified named varieties. Generally, seed of native species should originate from local sources or from within 200 miles north or south and 100 miles east or west of the area to be seeded.

Use seed of known quality. Know the germination and purity of the seed, since seeding rates are based on pure live seed (PLS).



Back to the Agronomic Assistance main page

Planting pasture or rangeland is expensive and the risk of failure is always present, carefully consider areas to be planted. When the management objective is to improve range or pasture condition, evaluate the quantity and distribution of current desirable plants. If desirable plants make up less than 10 to 15 percent of the vegetation, seeding may be necessary. If desirable plants are uniformly distributed and make up more than 10 to 15 percent of the vegetation, use grazing management or weed control practices to improve range condition.

Often however, another management decision dictates the necessity for planting. For example, seeding usually is necessary following a brush control method, such as rootplowing, that destroys the existing sod. Also, when a better seasonal balance of forage supply is desired, seeding usually is required because the species needed to extend the period of green forage are not present. These plants often are introduced species and are seeded in pure stands.

In addition, seeding is the most effective way to establish desirable vegetation on abandoned cropland, since natural revegetation processes may take 50 to 100 years on land barren from farming. On other bare areas, such as newly constructed dams and newly laid pipelines, seeding to establish a plant cover often is necessary to prevent wind and water erosion.

Seed only those sites having sufficient potential to insure reasonable chances of success. First, survey the area to determine if there is a mixture of range sites or if one predominates; then, decide whether the sites are suitable for planting. If the area is a mixture of sites, expend the most effort on ones with the best chance for success. Select planting sites so the area can be incorporated into the overall ranch management.

Sites with sufficient soil depth for adequate root development and water storage or sites that can be modified mechanically to accomplish a greater effective soil depth usually are suitable. However, avoid barren, rocky sites, which have greater temperature extremes at the soil surface and are more droughty than sites with soil and litter on the surface. Low soil moisture and wide temperature extremes can kill plant seedlings.

Although the amount of precipitation received on an area cannot be controlled, select sites that receive runoff water, thereby increasing the amount of moisture available. However, do not disturb steep, poteiitially erosive areas.

Back to the Agronomic Assistance main page

Planting Information

Seedbed Preperation
Timing
Seeding Methods
Seeding Rate
Seeding Depth

Back to the Agronomic Assistance main page

Planting warm season perennial grasses should be done when seedlings will have the longest possible period of good growing conditions for establishment. Planting should be timed so that seed can germinate as soon as the favorable growing season begins. Seedling growth may be curtailed by low temperatures, dry weather, or competition from weeds or other vegetation.

Planting in the late spring and early summer is most successful in the southwest were spring rains and summer rains prevail. The exact date depends on the local precipitation pattern, the species used, the method of planting and the time of weedy growth.

In many areas, where fall rains persist and potential frost date is late,(late November or early December) fall plantings have been beneficial. Fall plantings should be done early enough to allow plant growth 60 -90 days before first frost.

Planting Methods

Seeding Rate

Seeding rates depend upon the species, method of seeding and potential site productivity. Seeding rates of many grass species are based on pounds of pure live seed (PLS) per acre. PLS is the percentage of the bulk seed material that is live seed. This is determined by multiplying percentage germination by percentage purity of the lot of seed. When hard seed are involved, PLS = (percent germination + percent hard seed ) x percent purity.

Optimum seeding depth is dependent on seed size. Since smaller seeds have a smaller quantity of stored energy, do not seed them as deeply as larger seed. As a rule, grass seed should be planted 1/4 inches deep . When using a mixture of small and large seed, always plant at the depth of the small seeded variety in the mixture. Planting small seeded grass seed too deep is the single most reason for crop failure.

Management After Planting

Protect a newly seeded area from grazing until plants are established. Some species establish sooner than others, but in general, plants should be well rooted before grazing to prevent pulling up the seedlings. Length of deferment from grazing varies. In exceptionally good growing conditions, deferment through one growing season may be sufficient. During periods of harsh growing conditions, however, 2 or 3 years of deferment may be necessary. Grazing during dormant periods may help improve the stand by scattering and trampling seed into the soil. After plants are established, practice good grazing management to maintain the seeded stand.

During the first year little growth may be observed with perennial forages. Some perennial grasses may show only a few small brown leaves their first dry season and be almost invisible until they resume growth the next year. Because of this, plantings should not be plowed or replanted until they have had ample time - at least 2-3 years to demonstrate success.

Newly seeded perennial grasses need to be protected from grazing until the seedlings are large enough to withstand pulling and trampling by livestock. This may require 1- 3 years. depending on weather, and other growing conditions. As a rule of thumb it is best to keep livestock off newly seeded pastures until seed heads appear. Weather it be after the first growing season or after several years.

Weeds compete for moisture, light as well as space and nutrients. In newly planted warm season perennial grasses, weed control is required, to ensure adequate growth and stand establishment.

Early weed control begins during the fall before the initial spring planting, during seedbed preparation. Early seedbed preparation consists of deep discing and or chisel plowing, in mid November or December. Remove, all existing forage or ground cover is recommended. At this time apply and incorporate all phosphate, potash, micro- nutrients and lime as required by a soil test. Do not apply any nitrogen. Level seed bed to desired smoothness.

Allow fall and winter rains to firm seedbed and build up subsoil moisture. As weed seed began to germinate, cultivate field very shallow, to remove newly sprouted weeds. This may be done several times before planting.

After planting, weed control in perennial warm season grasses is best managed by shredding. Herbicide applications can injure or weakened grass seedling, so it is not recommended to spray any herbicide until stands are established, or after the first growing season

Back to top

Fertilizing Newly Planted Perennial Grasses

When fertilizing a newly established perennial warm season grass. A soil test is recommended. Many people attempt to guess on what the crop needs, however they are normally unaware of what is actually needed.

During early season land preparation, (November- December) apply and incorporate all required potash, phosphate, lime and micro nutrients (Zn, FE, Cu etc.) as recommended by soil test. Incorporating these elements by deep discing will ensure that adequate nutrients are in the root zone area (6-8 inches below soil surface) and reduce losses due to leaching and washing. Fertilizing during this period will also allow time for fertilizer to go into soil solution and be readily available when required for adequate plant growth during the spring the following year.

Since initial growth of perennial grass seedlings are slow, and the main emphasis in early season growth, is root development no nitrogen fertilizer should be applied until the newly planted grass seedling are 6" in height. At this point, a top dress application of nitrogen may be applied to stimulate top growth and yield.

Applying nitrogen fertilizer, before or at planting will create excessive weed competition, and will not be adequately utilized by desired grass seedlings. The application of excessive nitrogen at early stage of growth (seedling to 5-6 leaf stage) will only increase cost of establishment, not only in fertilizer cost but weed control cost as well.