AN ALTERNATIVE PLANTING STRATEGY FOR ESTABLISHING CLOVER IN PASTURES
Agronomy & Pest Management
Daniel Griffin
CEA-STAFF CHAIR
University of Arkansas
CLINTON
Abstract
Producers in Van Buren County utilize tall fescue as the primary source of cool-season pastures for livestock production. The past two years have been difficult for producers to be able to maintain adequate forage production due to the increase cost of nitrogen fertilizer. The introduction of clover into fescue pastures can reduce nitrogen input while maintaining forage production and lower the negative effects of toxic endophytes. An on-farm research grant funded by Southern SARE was utilized to conduct a study of planting clover into grass-sod comparing two planting strategies which were 1) planting white clover at a rate of 2 lbs/acre (1x rate) over the entire pasture vs. 2) planting clover in strips equal to 25% of the pasture at a rate of 8 lbs/acre (4x rate). Two farms one in Cleburne County AR and one in Van Buren County AR were selected and planted with white clover in late winter of 2007 and 2008 respectively. The farm in Cleburne Co. the fall of 2008 reported a 91% clover stand in the strip-seeded fields compared to 70% clover stand in the solid seeded fields. The Van Buren Co. farm reported in the fall of 2009 a 59% clover stand in the strip-seeded fields and a 99% clover stand in the solid seeded fields. The summers of 2008 and 2009 were exceptional clover years and seemed to have contributed to the success of the solid seeded stand of clover in Van Buren Co. We also reported a savings of no-till drill rental and fuel savings by having to cover 75% less of the field to establish the clover. Overall the strip planting method seem to be a viable practice to save input cost that will allow producers to be successful in establishing clovers.
Authors: Griffin, D. J.
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Griffin, D. J. Cea-StaffChair, University Of Arkansas, Arkansas, 72031