No-Till Pastures

Some farmers choose to no-till seed pastures, usually in an effort to introduce legumes into an already existing grass pasture.

By interseeding legumes (alfalfa, red clover, or birdsfoot trefoil) into grass pastures without tillage, the production and quality of the pasture can be increased. Also, no-till seedings minimize soil erosion hazards by not completely destroying the existing pasture.

Here are the steps toward "legumizing" grass pastures:

1. Graze the pasture continuously and intensively 20 to 30 days before the seeding date. This reduces the vigor of the existing pasture plants so they will not compete as vigorously with the newly seeded species.
2. Fertilize according to the soil test. The pH should be 6.5 to 7.0. Apply lime at a rate proper for one-half the plow depth, and apply phosphorus and potassium as indicated by a soil test.
3. Apply herbicides for vegetation control. Paraquat or Roundup are approved. If Paraquat is used, 2,4-D should be applied two weeks before the seeding date.
4. Seed legumes with a no-till drill that places the seed into the soil surface and provides soil-seed contact.
5. Seed in late August to early September throughout the southern three-quarters of Illinois, and seed in early spring throughout the northern two-thirds of Illinois. The late August seedings in no-till pasture renovation programs should be made a little earlier than the hay crop seedings on prepared seedbeds. There is more competition in pasture seedings, so the seedlings need more time to develop strong roots before winter.
6. Apply insecticides as needed. Leafhoppers, crickets, grasshoppers, and perhaps other soil and vegetation insects may become serious enough to require an insecticide application. An application of Furadan at seeding time aids in the control of soil insects.

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