Page 11 - MWC 02-25-2021s

Winter Interseeding Legumes The Midwest Cattleman · February 25, 2021 · P11

By Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension Educator closer eye on soil nutrients as well limit the ability to use a drill.
One of the biggest challenges
as adjustments to current weed
From a forage perspective, Choosing a Location management strategies. Most le- to interseeding is the competition
winter is typically a time for Picking the right pasture is gumes are herbicide sensitive, so from already established grasses
using the resources we have on critical to successful legume es- pastures with heavy weed pres- in the pasture. Because plants
hand and planning ahead to next tablishment. Legumes need ade- sure that need treatment are not that were grazed before going
year’s growing season. However, quate levels of phosphorus and a good candidates. dormant are slower to recover in
there may be some opportunity pH of 6 or greater. Some species This time of year, getting a drill the spring, a heavily fall grazed
to take this time to improve your prefer pH closer to 7. With this in into the ground to interseed isn’t pasture is a good candidate for
pasture with some alternative le- mind, taking the time to soil sam- typically an option. Normally fro- interseeding. A more open can-
gume seeding options. ple is worth the time and effort zen soil and direct seeding don’t opy and less competition from
Benefits before spending more money and work well together, although with surrounding plants will allow
Interseeding improves pas- time on seed. mild winters, there may be some seedlings the opportunity to firm-
ture production in two main Additionally, maintaining le- windows of opportunity. Even continued on page 27
ways, through fertility and qual- gumes in a pasture may require a the topography of a pasture may
ity. Most legume species: alfalfa,
clovers, birdsfoot trefoil, are high
in protein and energy. By adding
them to the grazing options for
your animals on grass, the overall
diet throughout the course of the
year can be improved, positively
impacting animal condition and
productivity.
Additionally, legumes are well-
known for their ability to pull
nitrogen from the air and fix it
in a form useable by plants. In
a grass/legume mixture, the le-
gumes are not producing nitrogen
for the whole pasture, but they
are making enough for them-
selves which greatly reduces the
nitrogen demand for the pasture
as a whole. This nitrogen applica-
tion cost savings, keeps money in
your pocket when it comes time
to fertilize.

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