Low-Input Overseeding: Page 2 of 8

by R.L. Dalrymple

Overseeding Cool-Season Forages into Warm-Season Forages

An example of this style of overseeding illustrates its success. We have used low-input winter forage overseeding in 'Midland' bermudagrass sods on the controlled-rotation grazing unit of the Noble Foundation's Pasture Demonstration Farm for twelve years (figure 1). Our usual planting technique is simply broadcasting proven rye and ryegrass variety seeds (under the proper residue, timing, and climate) with low-cost fertilizer spreaders. When possible this planting is coordinated with rainfall and tread-in by beef cattle at five- to thirty-six-head stock density. The higher the stock density, the better the tread-in when other conditions are within appropriate bounds. In our research, proper tread-in helps create stands 38 percent better on average than untrodden ones and is part of many low-input plantings, but a good long rain is better. This grass production unit actually could be farmed with minimal input: the family vehicle and a small fertilizer spreader, or just a telephone and a cooperative fertilizer/seed dealer.

Figure 1. A usual broadcast-overseeded rye and ryegrass mixture in bermudagrass, acheived by broadcast planting and treading in by beef cattle. (Click image to enlarge.)

Figure 2. A bermudagrass, crabgrass and johnsongrass warm-season mixture created by broadcast planting and tread-in by cattle. (Click image to enlarge.)

During the first few seasons, we used primarily adapted annual ryegrasses. We experimented with different small grains, legumes, and a few other forages, and found that a mixture of a proven forage-type cereal rye at 100 to 120 pounds of pure live seed per acre and a proven annual ryegrass at 20 to 25 pounds of pure live seed per acre was the best for this style of low-input planting. Barley established nearly as well as rye. Several other forages produced acceptable stands. The winter crop averaged about 3,000 pounds of forage per acre and about 300 pounds of stocker beef per acre when treated with 100 pounds of actual nitrogen plus P (phosphorus), K (potassium), and lime as necessary, according to soil test results and proper rotational grazing practices. The usual ebb and flow of year-to-year production is evident, but there has never been a total stand failure, nor have we used a drill or tractor.

Some years more production is from cereal rye than annual ryegrass, which is one reason we use mixtures. This bermudagrass-based unit was also planted via low input to other warm-season forages to create a warm-season mixture (figure 2). More detail on this research and demonstration work is available (Dalrymple, 1988, 1991).