Forage Overseeding and Sodseeding Permanent Summer Pastures

Sodseeding and overseeding part of the permanent summer pasture sod are important in any full-season quality forage production program in Mississippi if you want at least 10 months of grazing. The amount of each, or the best methods to use, varies according to the feed requirements, type of permanent sod, and whether it is the main winter grass planted or is used as a supplement for prepared seedbed planting.

Overseeding

Overseeding ryegrass on grazed-down, permanent sod pasture has an important place in the winter pasture program if you properly manage these areas. Most of the pasture acreage that fits this program is permanent sods of bahiagrass and hybrid and common bermudagrass. Excess grass must be grazed off, cut for hay, or clipped down closely by late October. If you plant ryegrass into sod higher than three inches, you usually will have poor results. Though you can seed ryegrass on the surface with no soil disturbance, it will germinate slowly and probably not give any grazing before late January.

One of the best methods is to run a spring tine-type pasture renovator on the contour to shatter the hard, dry soil. This loosens the compacted surface area and lets water and organic litter move into the root area of the sod without destroying the established sod. Seed 40 pounds ryegrass per acre, harrow to smooth, and then cultipack for quick germination. This renovation will improve the permanent pasture the next summer by increasing root penetration for better use of stored moisture and nutrients.

You can run a disk on contour to streak or slightly work the sod area, but this does not open up the sod and break up the compacted soil like a renovator. When you use the disk, sow ryegrass seed and then harrow at a 45-degree angle to smooth the field and cover some of the seed.

If you use light seedbed preparation, the ryegrass can usually be grazed by early January. Ryegrass overseeded about October 20 or later should be fertilized with 60 to 70 pounds of actual nitrogen at planting time so the grass can get maximum growth before cold weather. You can apply lime, phosphate, and potash for the whole year at this time. Using high rates of nitrogen before October 20 below Highway 84 may stimulate the permanent sod and cause some competition with the young ryegrass. You should not begin overseeding in most cases before October 1 in north Mississippi, October 10 in central Mississippi, and October 20 in the southern area.

You should nitrate overseeded permanent pasture in mid-February with about 60 to 70 pounds of actual nitrogen (equivalent to 200 pounds ammonium nitrate) per acre. Graze it heavily in April and early May to keep the ryegrass from growing up and setting the permanent grass back. While you are grazing these overseeded areas, other permanent sod areas can get started and be ready for grazing when the ryegrass is gone.

This program works especially well for brood cows that are calving in the fall and winter. It also serves as a back-up for a stocker grazing program. You should not usually overseed over one-half of permanent pasture areas, because you can have problems keeping the ryegrass grazed.

Sodseeding

Planting an annual crop in pasture sod with a drill-type seeder that only disturbs the area planted is called "sodseeding." It saves time and labor, since you can seed and fertilize in one trip over the field. Sodseeding gives a double grazing value -- permanent pasture grazing in the summer and fall and on the same pasture, temporary grazing in the winter and spring. A special value of sodseeding in permanent pastures is that these areas can be grazed when the ground is wet.

You can sodseed permanent pastures when summer and fall grazing is finished. You can also sodseed silage and temporary summer grazing acreage after these crops are harvested. Sodseeding is excellent in heavy clover areas, allowing interplanting of a cereal or ryegrass with the clover for a better grazing combination. Sodseeding on permanent pastures can begin in early October and continue until mid-November.

You can sodseed cereals such as oats, rye, or wheat in combination with ryegrass. Use cereals only in the early plantings. It will usually not pay to include cereals in the later planting, since these crops give the greatest growth production in the fall, and late-sodseeded crops usually don't give grazing until mid-January. Seed 100 pounds cereal and 25 pounds ryegrass or 35 pounds ryegrass alone.

When planting with the sodseeder, you can broadcast fertilizer just before or after seeding. Apply 66 pounds of actual nitrogen on areas sodseeded after October 15. Where you apply fertilizer in a band with seed, carefully separate seed and fertilizer to prevent "burning" young seedlings.

Topdressing sodseeded grazing crops is necessary in mid to late February. Usually these crops can use 60 to 70 pounds of actual nitrogen for spring growth. Sodseeded winter crops need a full rate of fertilizer to produce high yields.

Sodseeded areas should not be grazed until they are well-established, preferably 6 inches tall before grazing. Sodseeded pastures will provide late winter and early spring grazing. They should be stocked heavily in late March, April, and May to graze out the ryegrass so that it won't set back the permanent sod. If close grazing is not possible, clip the excess forage and bale it as hay. The sodseeding technique will do a good job of renovating pastures where the sod is getting thick. On this sod land, the renovation and fertilization help bring back the volunteering pasture plants, especially clovers that help produce a better grazing mixture.

Quality for Effort

Overseeding or sodseeding on permanent pasture sod allows you to get more cow-grazing days from each acre of grass if you manage the pastures properly. Never overseed or sodseed over two-thirds of your pasture. Seed only the amount of pasture your cattle can heavily graze during the spring.

Summer pastures not overseeded or sodseeded grow in April and May to produce early summer grazing or a hay cutting while the ryegrass areas are being grazed. If overseeded ryegrass is to be cut for hay, do this by early May, or your summer grass pasture will be severely penalized.

When renovating for overseeding or when sodseeding, always run on the contour to reduce erosion and increase soil moisture storage. This is a good time to add a clover to your pasture mixture. White, red, arrowleaf, crimson, subterranean, berseem, and ball clovers are all adapted to certain areas of Mississippi and add quality to your permanent pastures. This quality is particularly beneficial to brood cows and reduces the amount of commercial nitrogen needed by the grass.

Always inoculate any clover planted with the particular inoculant that is specific for that clover. Shotgun mixes of inoculants are not satisfactory, and clover will not produce its potential in nitrogen unless properly inoculated. A permanent summer pasture requires more management if overseeded or sodseeded with ryegrass or legumes, but the improved quality justifies the effort.

By E. Lamar Kimbrough, Ph.D., Extension Agronomist

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Information Sheet 829
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director

Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.

This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Visit: DAFVM || USDA
Search our Site || Need more information about this subject?
Last Modified: Monday, 29-Mar-04 10:06:46
URL: http://msucares.com/pubs/infosheets/is0829.htm
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.
Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.