METHODS AND MATERIALS 



Sod seedings of 'Saranac' alfalfa at 12 lbs/acre were made 

 in 1977-79 at the locations shown in Table 1. In 1978 and in 1979 

 a John Deere Powrtill seeder was used to seed into vegetation mowed 

 to a 2-inch stubble height after herbicide treatment. A Tye Pasture 

 Pleaser seeder was used for the 1979 seedings in vegetation left in place 

 after herbicide treatment. Herbicides evaluated included pronamide 

 [3,5-dichloro (N-1, l-dimeyhyl-2-propnyl benzamide], paraquat 

 (l,l'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium ion), glyphosate [N- (phosphonomethyl) 

 glycine], and 2 , A-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. Carbofuran (2, 3-dihydro- 

 2,2'-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methyl carbamate) was broadcast at 1.0 lb/acre 

 to all seedings soon after alfalfa seedling emergence. All treatments 

 were replicated from 3 to 5 times. 



All fields renovated had previously been seeded conventionally to 

 alfalfa. Stands had eventually become dominated by various cool- 

 season grasses. All sites had pH values between 5.7 and 6.4 and med- 

 ium to very high levels of available phosphorus (Table 1) . Phosphorus 

 was surface applied prior to no-till seeding to raise the soil test 

 response of the surface 4 inches to very high levels. Potassium was 

 applied in accordance with expected crop removal the year following 

 seeding. 



Seedlings were counted 3 to 7 weeks after seeding in randomly 



2 

 chosen 1 ft areas within each plot. Swaths 3 ft wide across each 



plot were harvested and weighed, and subsampled in order to determine 



percentage dry matter. Species composition of forage was determined 



by hand separation of subsamples in 1977, and was visually estimated 



for all harvests taken from 1978 to 1980. Percentage ground cover by 



alfalfa was visually estimated at three to four weeks after harvest 



during the year following seeding. 



Mention of a commercially available product is for the benefit of the 

 reader and does not imply endorsement by the New Hampshire Agricultural 

 Experimental Station. 



