INFLUENCE OF TIME OF SEEDING ON ESTABLISHMENT AND PERSISTENCE OF SPECIES, AND YIELD OF FORAGE MIXTURES

Abstract

Satisfactory results were obtained from seeding forage mixtures at any of four dates at successive 2-week intervals between the end of May and July 15. For each of the four subsequent seeding dates substantial yield reductions occurred. The loss in yield between the fourth and the eighth seeding date averaged 45, 25, and 15% for the first, second, and third harvest years respectively for a seed mixture including timothy, alfalfa, red clover, and alsike. Corresponding yield reductions for a mixture of bromegrass, alfalfa, and ladino clover were 75, 25, and 15%. In each case the loss in the third year amounted to.65 tons of dry matter per acre. Legume establishment and contribution were greatly reduced at the later seeding dates as indicated by inclined point quadrat surveys. Timothy performed somewhat better than did bromegrass at the later planting dates and both responded better than legumes to delayed planting. Weed and bare ground amounts were greater with each successive planting date. By the end of the third harvest year species composition differences attributable to planting date were practically eliminated.