1. II.Basic Forage Establishment and Physiology. Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock, PhD. Extension Forage Specialist UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences

2. Establishment

3. Thou Shalt Soil Test The #1 cause of poor stands at establishment – poor soil fertility or low soil pH.

4. When you plant… Planting time (timing) Proper seeding method  seedbed preparation Good seed placement Proper seeding rate √ Control competition √ Planting time (timing) Proper seeding method  seedbed preparation Good seed placement Proper seeding rate √ Control competition √

5. Seeding Date Optimum timing varies –Water –Weather –Competition –Disease pressure Optimum timing varies –Water –Weather –Competition –Disease pressure #1 = Fall Seeding (Oct. – Nov.) Spring Seeding = Severe Weed Comp.

6. Seedbed Preparation 1.Prepared seedbed 2.No-till (“Minimum till”) 3.Frost seeding - Clovers, only. 1.Prepared seedbed 2.No-till (“Minimum till”) 3.Frost seeding - Clovers, only.

7. “No-till” Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion. Primarily used for sod- seeding or interseeding Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging). Best when terrain is rolling or soil is at risk of erosion. Primarily used for sod- seeding or interseeding Not feasible for vegetative establishment (sprigging).

8. Grain vs. No-till drill No-till drill

9. Coulter Shoe Press- wheel Press- wheel

10. Small-seed box.

11. Grain vs. No-till drill Grain Drill

12. Minimum Till (“No-till”) Acceptable for vegetative establishment (sprigging), at least in Piedmont.

13. Prepared Seedbed “Well-prepared” seedbed  Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4 wks prior to sprigging  Incorporate lime, phosphorus, and potassium.  Allow time to settle or firm with cultipacker/roller. Seedbed should be firm  Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in. deep  If too fluffy, the soil will dry very quickly (sandy soils) “Well-prepared” seedbed  Plow/disc/finish at least 2-4 wks prior to sprigging  Incorporate lime, phosphorus, and potassium.  Allow time to settle or firm with cultipacker/roller. Seedbed should be firm  Boot tracks should be ~1/4 in. deep  If too fluffy, the soil will dry very quickly (sandy soils)

15. Winter Seedings (Red/White Clover)

16. Frost Seedings Yes for Clover No for Grasses or Alfalfa The more bare ground, the better Outside force is necessary  Weather  Cattle traffic Yes for Clover No for Grasses or Alfalfa The more bare ground, the better Outside force is necessary  Weather  Cattle traffic

17. Drilling Depth Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed placement. Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures! Watch cutting coulter depth in wet ground Coulters should cut about twice depth of seed placement. Seeding too deep is major cause of establishment failures!

18. Seeding Depth: ¼ to ½ inch

19. Seed Placement

20. Seedling Emergence: Festucoid

21. Seedling Emergence: Panicoid

22. Seedling Emergence: Hypocotyl Arch

23. Seed Quality Concerns Seed crop is relatively poor quality  Poor germination  Purity is low Pure Live Seed (PLS)  Germ x Purity  Maybe < 80% PLS Seed crop is relatively poor quality  Poor germination  Purity is low Pure Live Seed (PLS)  Germ x Purity  Maybe < 80% PLS

24. Thou Shalt Use Certified Seed

25. Use Certified Seed CommonCertified

26. Inoculate with appropriate strain: Alfalfa group (Rhizobium meliloti) Clover Group (Rhizobium trifolii)

27. Establishing Hybrid Bermudagrass Best methods 1) Dormant sprigs (rhizomes) - 40-50 bu/A  Dec. to early Mar. 2) Sprigs with green tops – 30-50 bu/A  spring (after last freeze) to early Aug. 3) Tops/green stems – 50-60 bu/A  Jun. – Aug.  Not recommended for Tifton 44 Best if seedbed is well-prepared

28. Physiology

31. Legumes may have stolons or rhizomes, too.  White/Ladino clover (stolons)  Kura clover (rhizomes) Many forage legumes will have neither. Legumes may have stolons or rhizomes, too.  White/Ladino clover (stolons)  Kura clover (rhizomes) Many forage legumes will have neither. Legume Parts

32. The Plant Cell Pectins Hemicellulose Cellulose Lignin Silica Protein Oil Minerals Sugars Organic Acids Easily Digestible Neutral Detergent Fiber Total Digestible Nutrients Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Metabolizable Energy TDN RFQ Metabolizable Energy

34. Maturity and Digestibility vegetative early reproductive full-seed Total Yield Stem Yield Leaf Yield Digestibility

35. Quality Differences in the Major Forage Species

36. Cool Season vs. Warm Season Wheat – CSAG (C 3 ) Corn – WSAG (C 4 )

37. QUESTIONS? www.georgiaforages.com