Table 1.8-5. Recommended forage mixtures and seeding rates.
- Individual species and recommended mixtures are classified according to the soil depth drainage conditions and use for which they are suited. Each mixture has been given an identification number and is described in the text. Several mixtures are suggested in each category, but are not listed in any order of preference.
| Depth and drainage characteristics of field soils | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed use of forage | Deep, well-drained | Moderately deep, well-drained (moderately droughty) | Shallow, well-drained (droughty) | Moderately well-drained | Moderately and poorly drained |
| Hay or silage | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 38 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 | 5, 7, 19, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 | 5, 7, 8, 16, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 | 5, 7, 8, 15, 22, 33, 37 |
| Pasture | 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 39 | 3, 4, 7, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 39 | 5, 7, 10, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33 | 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33 | 5, 8, 13, 18, 22, 24 |
| Alfalfa alone or in mixtures | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Alfalfa in pure stand, 15–18 lb |
| 2. | Alfalfa, 10 lb, with one of the following: orchardgrass, 3 lb; smooth bromegrass, 8 lb; tall fescue, 5 lb; timothy, 4 lb |
| 3. | Alfalfa, 10 lb, with one of the following: orchardgrass, 3 lb; reed canarygrass, 8 lb; tall fescue, 5 lb |
| 4. | Alfalfa, 10 lb, with perennial ryegrass, 4–8 lb |
| Birdsfoot trefoil alone or in mixtures | |
| 5. | Birdsfoot trefoil in pure stand, 10 lb |
| 6. | Birdsfoot trefoil, 6 lb, with one of the following: Pennlate orchardgrass, 3 lb; smooth bromegrass, 6 lb; Climax timothy, 2 lb; or perennial ryegrass, 6 lb |
| 7. | Birdsfoot trefoil, 6 lb; with one of the following: Pennlate orchardgrass, 3 lb; reed canarygrass, 6 lb; or perennial ryegrass, 6 lb |
| 8. | Birdsfoot trefoil (upright variety preferred), 6 lb, with one of the following: Climax timothy, 2 lb; or reed canarygrass, 6 lb |
| 9. | Birdsfoot trefoil, 6 lb; timothy, 2 lb, and Kentucky bluegrass, 6 lb |
| Crownvetch | |
| 10. | Crownvetch, 10 lb, alone or with one of the following grasses: timothy, 4 lb; tall fescue, 6 lb; or Pennlate orchardgrass, 3 lb |
| Clovers | |
| 11. | Red clover in pure stand, 10–12 lb |
| 12. | Ladino clover, 1 lb, red clover, 2 lb, and alsike clover, 1 lb, with one of the following: orchardgrass, 4 lb; timothy, 4 lb; reed canarygrass, 8 lb; smooth bromegrass, 8 lb; or perennial ryegrass, 5 lb |
| 13. | Ladino clover, 1 lb, alsike clover, 2 lb, timothy, 4 lb, and reed canarygrass, 8 lb |
| 14. | Red clover, 6 lb, with one of the following: timothy, 4 lb; perennial ryegrass, 5 lb; or tall fescue, 12 lb |
| 15. | Alsike clover, 4 lb, and timothy, 4 lb |
| 16. | Red clover, 4 lb; alsike clover, 2 lb, and timothy, 4 lb |
| 17. | Ladino clover, 1 lb; red clover, 2 lb; Kentucky bluegrass, 4 lb; timothy, 2 lb, and perennial ryegrass, 5 lb |
| 18. | Ladino clover, 1 lb, or red clover, 6 lb, and tall fescue, 10 lb (use endophyte-free seed) |
| Cool-season grasses seeded alone | |
| 19. | Orchardgrass, 10 lb |
| 20. | Smooth bromegrass, 14 lb |
| 21. | Timothy, 8–10 lb |
| 22. | Reed canarygrass, 14 lb |
| 23. | Kentucky bluegrass, 14 lb |
| 24. | Tall fescue, 12 lb |
| 25. | Matua prairiegrass, 25 lb |
| Cool-season grass pasture mixture | |
| 26. | Kentucky bluegrass, 8 lb; smooth bromegrass, 4 lb, and timothy, 4 lb (a good grass base for pastures, especially suited for horse pasture) |
| Warm-season grasses seeded alone Seeding rates based on pure live seed (PLS) PLS = (% germination × % pure seed) ÷ 100 |
|
| 27. | Switchgrass, 8–10 lb PLS/A |
| 28. | Big bluestem, 10–12 lb PLS/A |
| 29. | Indiangrass, 10–12 lb PLS/A |
| Annual forages | |
| 30. | Turnips or swedes, 1.5 lb |
| 31. | Rape or kale, 4 lb |
| 32. | Sudangrass, 30 lb |
| 33. | Sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, 25–30 lb |
| 34. | Millet, 15 lb |
| 35. | Forage sorghums, 8–12 lb |
| 36. | Soybeans, 90 lb, and sorghum x sudangrass hybrid, 25 lb |
| 37. | Soybeans (Group IV), 90 lb, and grain sorghum, 6–8 lb |
| 38. | Pea, 100 lb, and small grain, 50 lb |
| 39. | Spring oats and other small grains, 3 bu |