Alfalfa seeding

[Matt S Illinois]

I was told I have to burn down and till up a used up alfalfa field to replant. The field is now 99% grasses. Can I just no till my new alfalfa seed into the grass? Will it work?
It has a good stand of grass would like to keep it this would work out.
Thanks In advance as alway good info here.
Matt.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't know about burning, but I do know that I could never get alfalfa to grow when seeding into the old grass. I have tried reseeding small places in a field and couldn't get a single seed to germinate. Without killing out the grass it would take over the new crop of alfalfa shortly anyway, so definitely you need to get rid of the old grass before seeding. I always plowed and grew a crop of corn or beans before returning to alfalfa.

 

[RodinNS]

I've never seen it work effectively 'here'. Even with a burn down it hasn't worked that great from the little I've seen of it. Planting alfalfa in this area means you put the moldboards to it first and when it's ready come back with a Brillion.

Rod

 

[paul]

It should work in theory. The real world tends to botch it up.

Old alfalfa plants put out a toxin that kills alfalfa seedlings, so a foot or two so around any old plant you won't get any new seedlings.

Grass tends to take a lot of moisture out of the top couple inches of soil. This is where the alfalfa sprouts live. Makes it real hard to get the alfalfa sprouts to take hold.

Likewise the shade - grass sod tends to be real thick, choking out the new seedlings.

Typically one beats the heck out of the sod - shallow field cultivator pass, or disking - to open it up to allow the alfalfa to get started. Then hope for extra rain & good condtions to get some of the alfalfa to take hold a little bit.

More likely you take out the field with a plow, and even then the grass comes back quick enough to weaken thre alfalfa n just a year or 2.

--->Paul

 

[GordoSD]

Nope. Burnit all down and plant beans or sorgham for one crop. Then next year plant your alfalfa /OG mix.

 

[charlie n]

I did this field last August.Sprayed roundup in the early spring and about the middle of July.I'm doin the FORTH cutting this weekend.I used a regular slit seeder.

 

[Old Iron]

Charlie that is a good looking stand of alfalfa, what part of the country are you located?

 

[charlie n]

Northwestern Madison county Illinois.

 

[Hogleg]

Charlie N,

More details please.

What was on the field prior to roundup. Did you kill then use the seeder or did you do any discing etc prior to seeding?

I have a field that was on a crop rotation 2 years ago, now has whatever grass came up. Plan to spray and then broadcast seed. Was thinking I should drag a disc across it some to ensure good seed to ground contact. I could go get a no-till seeder from the local farm svc agency.

John