11 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

 Red clover-timothy establishment 

 Results of August and May seedings are shown in Table 3. The August 



seeding of red clover emerged within one week with at least 30 seedlings/ 



2 

 ft in conventionally and sod-seeded plots. Seedlings on con- 

 ventional plots lacked vigor and attained a height of only 2-3 inches in 

 the fall, while seedlings on sod-seeded plots were more vigorous. The 

 poorer vigor on conventional seedings might be attributed to the drying of 

 the seedbed as a result of repeated tillage in July and August, although 

 the repeated tillage was necessary to control quackgrass. There was a light 

 shower after seeding which encouraged germination, but failed to sustain 

 subsequent growth. On the other hand, killing the sod with herbicide pre- 

 vented use of soil moisture by the vegetation and left a mulch to further 

 conserve the limited rainfall which occurred following seeding. 



The following spring there was an average of only four red clover 



2 

 seedlings per ft on conventional seedings; therefore, plots were reseeded 



in May. Heaving of clover plants was very severe on the conventionally 



seeded plots, which had a relatively bare soil surface, while clover seeded 



into suppressed sod suffered little heaving injury. 



Comparing May conventional and sod seedings, there was a tendency for 



sod seedings to have fewer seedlings (Table 3). Recovery of sod following 



paraquat application in May, compared with August treatment, was more rapid 



and the vigorous growth of the cool-season grasses in May could have been a 



factor. While there was less perennial grass competition with the conventional 



