How to Improve Existing Pasture Grasses

There are several ways to improve existing pasture grasses. You can renovate a pasture with new grass seeding or with a legume-grass mixture.

With new grass, a seedbed is prepared with primary and secondary tillage as needed. Lime should be incorporated approximately six months before seeding with fertilizer incorporated as necessary during seedbed preparation. A companion crop of oats is sown with a grain drill. The same basic steps are used when using a legume-grass mixture. The only difference is that legume is added into the seeding mixture and nitrogen fertilizer is not used.

Two other options for improving pasture grasses are interseeding and no-till renovation as well as frost seeding. When it comes to interseeding and no-till renovation, weeds are controlled several months before seeding. Lime and fertilizer are applied and one or more seedings of legumes is made in established grass sod with an interseeder. Finally, frost seeding involves one or more legumes being broadcast on established grass. Frost seeding usually takes place in late February or March. Freezing, thawing and early spring rains will provide seed coverage and assist in the establishment of these seeds.

The degree of improvement, of course, will vary depending on factors such as plant species, rainfall and management. In general, unimproved pastures will require at least three acres to support the grazing of a mature cow. If improvements listed above are successful, improved pastures should provide for one cow and calf on about one or two acres.

When it comes to hay production, there are generally two management alternatives. The first is alfalfa-grass seeded with an oat companion crop. In this case, a seedbed is prepared, and fertilizer is used as needed. This usually takes place in early spring. To achieve the best results, lime should be incorporated into the seedbed six months before seeding. Grass and legume seed should be sown shallower than oats and then soil should be firmed.

Oats are usually used harvested as grain and forage. The sown forage seedlings develop faster when oats are removed earlier as hay or silage. In most cases, a single harvest of the new hay meadow can be taken in late summer of the first year. Grass-legume seedings can be made in late August without a companion crop if soil moisture and other conditions permit.

Alfalfa spring-seeded with a pre-plant herbicide will establish quickly. A fine, firm seedbed is prepared, and the herbicide is incorporated before seeding takes place. On the other hand, alfalfa can be seeded without a companion crop if post-emergence herbicides are used for weed control. It is likely that two or more harvests of alfalfa can be taken during the seeding year if weeds have been well controlled.