Extension
Connection
Extension
Connection
Frost Seeding Legumes
By Heather Benedict, Agronomist Specialist
The variations in the temperature the past few weeks reminds us that it is now time to consider frost seeding legumes into your pasture. Research has shown that frost seeding by mid-February gives the best results. Legumes are spread on the soil surface and the freezing and thawing of the soil incorporates the legumes into the soil so they can germinate in the spring.
In our area, red clover is well suited for frost seeding into grasses. It has an advantage over other types of legumes of being more shade tolerant. Other good choices of legumes for frost seeding are other clovers and lespedeza. Legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil are better seeded in the establishment year of a pasture, or when the grass growth has been inhibited.
Some of the advantages of having legumes in a pasture are that you can limit the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed. Also, legumes provide high quality forage and can be a welcome addition to the pasture during the summer when grass growth slows and turns from vegetative to reproductive growth.
Just a reminder, if you plan to incorporate legumes into your pastures this spring, do yourself a favor and hold off on spreading nitrogen fertilizer until summer or fall. This will allow the legumes a chance to be established before the grass growth smothers them. You will still gain the benefits of fertilizing the pasture, but you will give the legumes a chance to become a strong healthy part of the sward.
I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know about several meetings in the area. In the beginning of February there are Ag-Updates scheduled for many of the counties. You will have the opportunity of getting your private pesticide license, or having it renewed while you can learn more about weed, insects, and other agricultural topics affecting us in 2009. Another meeting to consider is the winter crops conference to be held on February 17 in St. Joseph. You will be able to hear information on research practices that may help in improving your crop production from researchers at the University of Missouri. Contact your local extension office to confirm the dates and times of the meetings near you.
More information and the research on the practices I have discussed as well as on many more subjects can be found in your local extension office. So if you would like further(Written February 2 , 2009)
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Extension Connection Barb Ubben, Web Manager harrisonco@missouri.edu Last revised: 05/25/04 |