SOD SEEDING OF FORAGES 



I. Alternative to Conventional Establishment 



by 

 D. W. Koch, G. W. Mueller-Warrant, and J. R. Mitchell- 



INTRODUCTION 



The history of agriculture has been closely linked to tillage of the 

 soil. Tillage is the term that has been used to describe, collectively, 

 the operations of plowing, discing, harrowing and dragging to prepare a 

 fine, firm, clod-free seedbed. 



Can we eliminate tillage entirely? First, it is necessary to take a 

 close look at the need to plow, since most subsequent tillage operations are 

 necessitated by plowing. A number of reasons can be offered: (1) Plowing 

 provides a means of burying, and thereby killing, live weedy plants. 

 (2) Plowing incorporates surface mulch which would interfere with planting, 

 particularly the ability to obtain good seed-soil contact of small-seeded 

 forages. (3) Plowing and subsequent tillage provides a means to effectively 

 adjust soil pH and fertility. (4) Plowing often loosens the soil and may, 

 on some soils and in some situations, such as on compacted soils, increase 

 water infiltration, and (5) Incorporation of trash is considered to be a 

 good sanitary measure for control or prevention of insects and diseases. 

 These principles have been taught to generations of agronomists and yet 

 today we consider the total elimination of tillage. 



Great strides have been made in recent years toward reducing the need 

 for tillage. Specialized equipment, known as no-till seeders, are capable 

 of clearing or penetrating surface trash, preparing a narrow strip seedbed 



- Associate Professor, former Graduate Research Assistant, and Associate Pro- 

 fessor, respectively, Plant Science Department, University of New Hampshire, 

 Durham, N. H. 03824. Mueller-Warrant is currently Assistant Professor, 

 South Central Kansas Experimental Field, Route 2, Hutchinson, KS 67501. 



