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ForageGrasses

Alabama Planting Guide for
Forage Grasses (ANR-0149)


forage legumes

Alabama Planting Guide for
Forage Legumes (ANR-0150)

Alabama Forages

Establishment

Seeding

Crop Seeding Depth (inches) Germ. % (Min.) Purity % (Min.) Weed Seed % (Max) Seed /Pound Seedling Vigor
Bahiagrass 1/4 - 1/2 85 95 0.40 210,000 Poor
Barley (Grazing) 1-2 85 98 0.07 14,000
Bermudagrass Common (seed hulled) 1/4 - 1/2 85 95 0.50 2,071,000 Fair
Bermudagrass Hybrid (vegetatively-propogated) sprigs not seed Use fresh, live, certified sprigs 1,000 sprigs/bu Vegetative
Big Bluestem 1/4 - 1/2  70 90 0.50 150,000
Corn (Field) 1 - 2 90 99 None Variable
Crabgrass  1/4 - 1/2  N.D. N.D. 0.50 460,000 Good
Dallisgrass 1/4 - 1/2 60 70 0.25 300,000 Poor
Eastern Gamagrass 1/2 - 1 1/2  N.D. N.D. 0.50 724,000
Indiangrass 1/4 - 1/2 45 25 0.50 200,000
Johnsongrass 1/2 - 1 60 90 0.25 119,000 Good
Kentucky Bluegrass 0 - 1/4 80 90 0.50 2,177,000 Poor
Browntop Millet 1/2 - 3/4 80 98 0.05 140,000
Foxtail Millet 1/4 - 1/2 80 98 0.05 213,000
Pearl Millet 1/2 - 1 1/2 80 98 0.05 82,000 Excellent
Oats (Grazing) 1 - 2 85 98 0.07 15,000 Excellent
Orchardgrass 1/4 - 1/2 80 90 0.50 416,000 Fair
Rye (Grazing) 1 - 2 75 98 0.07 18,000 Excellent
Ryegrass  0 - 1/2 85 95 0.50 224,000 Good
Sorghum (Forage) 1 - 2 80 98 0.01 24,000 Good
Sorgum-Sudan Hybrid 1/2 - 1 80 98 0.01 Variable Excellent
Sudangrass 1/2 - 1 80 98 0.01 43,000 Good
Switchgrass 1/4 - 1/2 50 80 0.50 280,000 Poor
Tall Fescue 1/4 - 1/2 80 98 0.30 227,000 Good
Timothy 1/4 - 1/2 80 97 0.50 1,152,000 Fair
Wheat (Grazing) 1 - 2 85 98 0.07 11,000 Excellent
Alfalfa 0 - 1/4 80 99 0.50 227,000 Good
Birdsfoot Trefoil 0 - 1/4 80 99 0.50 370,000 Poor
Black Medic 0 - 1/4 80 95 0.30 266,000
Caley Peas 1/2 - 1 80 95 0.20 18,000 Good
Chicory, Forage 1/4 - 1/2  65 N.D. 0.50 426,000
Alyceclover 1/4 - 1/2 85 98 0.25 300,000
Arrowleaf Clover 0 - 1/2 85 99 0.50 400,000 Fair
Ball Clover 0 - 1/4 85 95 0.30 1,000,000
Berseem Clover 1/4 - 1/2  85 98 0.50 207,000 Good
Crimson Clover 1/4 - 1/2 85 99 0.50 150,000 Good
Red Clover 1/4 - 1/2 85 98 0.50 272,000 Excellent
Subterranean Clover 1/4 - 1/2 85 99 0.50 54,000 Good
White/Ladino Clover 0 - 1/4 85 99 0.50 768,000 Fair
Cowpeas 1 - 3 80 98 0.25 4,000
Crownvetch 1/4 - 1/2 65 95 0.50 242,500
Annual
(Striate and Korean) Lespedeza
1/4 - 1/2 85 99 0.50 230,000 to 240,000
Sericea Lespedeza 1/4 - 1/2 85 99 0.50 372,000 Poor
Blue Lupine 1 - 1/2 80 98 0.30 3,000
Perennial Peanut 1 - 2 Use fresh, live, certified sprigs Rhizomes ---
Rape, Annual 0 - 1/2 85 99 0.20 156,000
Soybeans 1 - 3 80 98 0.10 Variable
Sweetclover 1/4 - 1/2 80 99 0.50 259,000
Common Vetch 1 - 2 80 98 0.10 8,000
Hairy Vetch 1 - 2 80 98 0.10 16,000 Excellent

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Planting

Crop Soil Type Ph Range Seeding Rate (lb/A) Pure Live Seed Planting Dates
Bahiagrass Moist, sandy soils, to droughty uplands 5.5-6.0 B: 15-20 C: March 1 - July 1
S: Feb.1 - Nov. 1
Barley (Grazing) Well-drained, productive 6.0-6.5 Alone: B: 100-120
Mix: B: 60-75
N: Aug 25. - Oct. 1
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 25
S: Sept. 15 - Nov. 1
Overseeded: 3-5 wks later
Bermudagrass Common
(seed hulled)
Well-drained, light sand to clay loam 5.5-7.0 Hulled: B: 5-10 Unhulled: B: 10-15 N:  Apr. 1 - Jul. 15
C: Mar. 15 - Jul. 15 
S: Mar. 1 - Jul. 15
Bermudagrass Hybrid (vegetatively- propogated) Well drained, light sand to clay loam 5.5-7.0 R: 15 bu. sprigs  B: 30-40 bu. Sprigs Late Feb. - Aug. 15
Big Bluestem Well-drained, low fertility, moist 5.0-6.0 B: 9-12 PLS 
D: 7-9 PLS
N,C,S: April 1 - June 15
Corn (Field) Well-drained, fertile 5.5-6.5 R: 7-10 N: Mar. 25 - May 10 
C: Mar. 15 - Apr. 30
S: Mar. 1 - Apr. 20
Crabgrass Well-drained 5.5-7.5 B/D: 3-5 PLS Late Feb - Apr. 
Dallisgrass Well-drained, fertile, moist 5.5-8.0 B: 10-15 PLS N: Mar. 15 - Jul. 1 
C: Mar. 1 - Jul 1 
S: Feb. 1 - Jul 1
Eastern Gamagrass Heavy soils and moist bottoms 5.0-7.5 D: 8 -14 PLS  N: April 1 - July 1 
C: Mar 15 - July 15 
S: Mar 1 - Jul 15
Indiangrass Well-drained, sandy to clay loam 5.0-6.0 B: 0-12 PLS  D:7-9 PLS  N, C, S:
April 1 - June 15
Johnsongrass Medium - heavy soils 5.0-7.5 B: 20-30
D: 10-15
April - July
Kentucky Bluegrass Well-drained, productive 5.5-7.0 B: 8 - 15 N: Sep. - Oct.
Browntop Millet Well-drained, productive 5.5-6.5 B: 25-30
D: 15-20
N: May 1 - Aug. 1
C: Apr. 1 - Aug. 15
S: Apr. 1 - Aug. 15
Foxtail Millet Well-drained, productive 5.5-6.5 B: 25-30
D: 15-20
N: May 1 - Aug. 1
C: Apr. 1 - Aug. 15
S: Apr. 1 - Aug. 15
Pearl Millet Well-drained, fertile 5.5-6.5 B: 25-30
D: 12-15
N: Apr. 20 - Jul. 1 
C: Apr. 15 - Jul. 1
S: Apr. 1 - Jul. 15
Oats (Grazing) Clay loam to sandy loam 6.0-6.5 Alone: B: 90-120  Mix: B: 60-90 N: Aug 25. - Oct. 1 
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 25
S: Sept.15 - Nov. 1
Orchardgrass Well-drained, fertile, medium to heavy 5.5-8.0 B: 15-20 N: Sep. - Oct.
Rye (Grazing) Well-drained, sandy to clay loams 5.5-6.5 Alone: B: 90-120  Mix: B: 60-90 N: Aug 25. - Oct. 1 
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 25
S: Sept. 15 - Nov. 1 
Ryegrass  Clay loam       5.5-6.5 Alone: B: 20-30  Mix: B:15-20 N: Aug 25. - Oct. 1
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 25 
S: Sept. 15 - Nov. 1
Sorghum (Forage) Well- drained 5.5-6.5 B: 15-20 
Silage: D: 4-10
Late Apr. - May 1
S(only): late as July 1 
Sorgum-Sudan Hybrid Well-drained, productive 5.5-6.5 B: 30-35 
D: 20-25
Wide R: D: 8-12
N: May 1 - Aug. 1  
C: Apr. 15 - Aug. 1
S: Apr. 1 - Aug. 15
Sudangrass Light sandy to heavy clay 6.0-6.5 B: 30-40
D: 20-25
May 1 - Aug. 1 
Switchgrass Poorly  to moderately drained, deep soils 5.0-6.0 B: 5-6 (PLS)
D: 4-5 PLS
N: April 1 -July 15
C: March 15 - July 15 
S:Mar 1 - July 1 
Tall Fescue Moist, fetile bottoms, productive upland 5.5-6.5 B: 15-20
D: 10-15
N,C: Sep - Oct
S: Sept. 15 - Nov. 15
Timothy Well-drained, productive 6.0-6.5 B: 6-8 N: Aug. 15 - Sep. 15 
Wheat (Grazing) Medium - heavy soils 5.5-6.5 Alone: B: 90-120   Mix: B: 60-90 N: Aug 25. - Oct. 1
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 25
S: Sept. 15 - Nov. 1 
Alfalfa Well-drained, fertile, deep >6.5 D: 18-25
B: 20-25
N: Aug. 15 - Oct. 1
C: Sept. 1 - Oct. 1 
S: Oct. 1 - Nov. 1 
Birdsfoot Trefoil Well-drained, productive 6.0-7.0 Alone: B: 8-10 Mix: B: 4-5 Sep. - Oct
Black Medic Lime soils >7.0 B: 10-12 Sep. - Oct. 
Caley Peas All Black Belt soil >6.5 B: 50-55 Sep. 1 - Oct. 15
Chicory, Forage Moderately Well-Drained 5.5-8.3 Alone: D:4-5   Mix: D: 2-3  Aug - Oct. 15
Alyceclover Well-drained, fertile 6.5-7.0 B: 15-20 S: May 15 - July 15
Arrowleaf Clover Well-drained, medium to high fertility 6.0-7.0 B: 5- 10 N: Aug. 25 - Oct. 1
C: Sep. 1 - Oct. 15 
S: Sep. 15 - Nov.1
Ball Clover Sandy loam to clay       >6.5 B: 3-5 Sep. - Oct
Berseem Clover Poorly drained, loam to clay loam 6.5-8.0 B: 20- 25
D: 15- 18
S: Oct. 1 - Nov. 15
Crimson Clover Well-drained 6.0-7.0 B: 20-30 N: Aug. 25 - Oct. 1 
C: Sep. 1 - Oct. 1
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 1  
Red Clover Well-drained, fertile 6.5-8.0 B: 12-15
D: 8 - 10
N,C: Sep. 15 - Nov. 15
--OR-- Feb. 1 - Apr. 1
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 15
Subterranean Clover Well-drained, productive 6.0-7.3 B: 8-10 C,S: Sept. - Oct
White/Ladino Clover Moist bottoms and productive uplands 6.0-7.5 B: 2-3 N, C: Sep - Oct
--OR--    Feb . 1 - Apr. 1
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 15
Cowpeas Well-drained, fertile 5.5-6.5 R: 30-40
B: 100-120
May 1 - Jun. 15
Crownvetch Well-drained 6.0-6.5 B: 8-10 N: Sep. - Oct
Annual
(Striate and Korean) Lespedeza
Avoid lime soils of the black belt 5.5-6.0 B: 25-35 Feb. 15 - Apr. 11
Sericea Lespedeza Well-drained, moist (avoid lime soils) 5.5-6.0 B: 15-20 
B: 20-30(if no herbicide)
N: Mar. 15 - May 15 
--OR-- Jun. 15 - Jul. 15
C: Mar. 1 - May 1
S: Feb. 1 - May 1 
Blue Lupine Well-drained 5.5-7.5 B: 100 - 120
D: 50-75 
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 1
Perennial Peanut Well-drained, Sandy 5.0-7.5 Rhizomes: 80 to 120 bu/A S: Dec. 1 - Mar.1 
Rape, Annual Well-drained, productive 5.5-7.0 B: 8-10
D: 5-8
Feb. - Mar
Soybeans Deep loam, bottoms 5.5-6.5 D: 60-100 N: May 1 - May 30
C: May 1 - May 30
S: Before June 15
Sweetclover Lime soils of the black belt >7.0 B: 12-15   Sept - Oct
Common Vetch Well-drained, sand, loam, clay 5.0-8.0 B: 30-40 N: Sep 1 - Oct. 15
C: Sep 1 - Oct. 15 
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 15
Hairy Vetch Well-drained, sand, loam, clay 5.0-8.0 B: 20-25 N, C: Sep. 1 - Oct. 15 
S: Sep. 15 - Nov. 1    

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Inoculation

Crop Inoculant Group
Alfalfa Alfalfa
Birdsfoot Trefoil Trefoil
Black Medic Alfalfa
Caley Peas Pea and Vetch
Alyceclover Cowpea
Arrowleaf Clover Clover
Ball Clover Clover
Berseem Clover Clover
Crimson Clover Clover
Red Clover Clover
Subterranean Clover Clover
White/Ladino Clover Clover
Cowpeas Cowpea
Crownvetch Crownvetch

Annual Lespedeza

Cowpea
Sericea Lespedeza Cowpea
Blue Lupine Lupine
Soybeans Soybean
Sweetclover Alfalfa
Common Vetch Pea and vetch
Hairy Vetch Pea and vetch

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