Pasture Establishment for Forage and Seed Production

Some operational activities are done for successful pasture establishment. These activities are necessary because they help the pasture species to survive in a new environment, full of challenges (e.g. pests and diseases, nematodes, etc).

A well-managed pasture can easily adapt to the new environment perhaps due to proper soil moisture, air, nutrients, and the right soil structure.

However, there should be favorable climatic conditions and good management practices. Badly managed pastures will poorly establish regardless of whether they are native or exotic species.

Pasture Establishment for Forage and Seed Production

1. Pre-Planting Operations in Pasture Establishment

The following operations are necessary before successful pasture establishment:

1. Site selection – This will depend on the locality upon which the pasture is to be established. However, the site should be good for the cultivation of field crops, and it should be plain and not rocky.

2. Land clearing – This should be done either manually, chemically, mechanically, or through burning. However, the cost: the benefit ratio of such methods should be ascertained before making a decision.

3. Seedbed preparation – Seedbeds should be prepared through good land preparation. This can be achieved through plowing, harrowing, leveling, and construction of ridges, in the case of large-seeded legumes

4. Seed treatment – Pasture seeds should be treated with fungicides and insecticides before planting. Sometimes, seeds are treated using hot water to break their dormancy. This process is known as scarification.

Additionally, some pasture seeds such as Lablab purpureus are inoculated with rhizobium strain of bacteria to facilitate germination and establishment.

However, the quantity of seeds (seed rate) to use has to be determined on a per-hectare basis. The sowing depth has to be shallow for grass species (2cm) and medium for legumes (5-7cm)

Read Also: Factors Affecting Successful Pasture Establishment

2. Planting/Sowing Methods

Pasture seeds can be planted or sown using three methods (planting, drilling, and broadcasting). Planting is done mainly for large-seeded legumes such as Mucuna pruriens, Lablab purpureus, etc.

These pasture seeds are planted using inter and intra-row spaces available (25cm×75cm) for optimum plant population. In drilling, there is no intra-spacing, rather the seeds are drilled evenly with a single and continuous hole. For broadcasting, the seeds are broadcasted in the field.

Drilling and broadcasting methods are done for small-seeded legumes and grass seeds. Sometimes, it is advisable to use a carrier agent such as sand, fertilizer, or sawdust during planting to enable seeds to be placed in the intended location, especially on a windy day.

Read Also: Definition and Establishment of Semi-Permanent Pastures

3. Post-Planting Operations

After encouraging germination of the pasture species, some operations are expected for better establishment, forage yield, and quality. These operations include the followings:

1. Weeding – This can be achieved manually, through the use of hand hoes, chemically using herbicides, or mechanically, using tractor-coupled implements such as a weeder.

Weeding should be done 2-3 weeks after planting depending on the intensity of weeds and also the management. In commercial pasture production, weeding is done mechanically for better results

2. Fertilizer Application – Fertilizers should be applied after weeding for improved performance. Some farmers apply fertilizers such as phosphatic fertilizers e.g. Single Super Phosphate (SSP) during land preparation.

However, other fertilizers such as nitrogenous fertilizers have to be applied to the pasture especially if it is a sole grass pasture.

3. Defoliation – This refers to the cutting of plant shoots with the aim of improving the growth performance and getting high-quality forage. The pasture species can be defoliated 2-3 times in a year depending on the species, environmental conditions, and management.

Read Also: Advantages and Constraints to Successful Pasture Production Agriculture

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