|
Reestablishing
Pastures and Hay Meadows - Seed
placement
Broadcast planting
can be successful. However, tillage, followed by both pre- and post-plant
packing, is required. Currently, many fertilizer application units
in Montana can accurately apply forage seed, and this has become
popular. Broadcast seeding can also be done with a “whirlybird”
spreader operated by hand, or mounted on a four-wheeler or tractor.
Many inaccessible areas are seeded by aircraft.
For many situations
after wildfire, broadcast planting may be the best option for reseeding
forages. In this case, the soil may already be in a firm, weed-free
condition. It may be necessary to scratch the soil with a pasture
drag before broadcasting, followed by seeding, then packing if possible.
For all broadcast seedings, the recommended seeding rates should
be doubled to offset seed that are placed too deep or too shallow.
(This corresponds to the double seeding rate recommended by the
NRCS for revegetation projects following a severe burn; seeding
rate should be 2X the rates listed in Table
2). Broadcast seeding immediately prior to heavy snow
in the fall is often very successful.
|
Home