Seed production from grass is highly dependent upon favorable moisture and good soil fertility. Both moisture and fertility must be present; one does little good without the other. A good grass seed crop needs about the same amounts of nutrients as either corn or oats. Table 1 shows relative comparisons of nutrients taken up by comparable-yielding crops. Successful grass seed production also requires an adequate stand, weed control, and use of adapted varieties. These are discussed in C 244,  Grass Seed Production: Guidelines,  available from your county Extension agent

Carson, P.

Gelderman, R.

Gerwing, J.

English

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South Dakota State UniversityOpen PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access InstitutionalRepository and Information ExchangeAgricultural Experiment Station Circulars SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station8-1987Fertilizing for Grass Seed ProductionR. GeldermanSouth Dakota State UniversityP. CarsonSouth Dakota State UniversityJ. GerwingFollow this and additional works at: http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/agexperimentsta_circThis Circular is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research AccessInstitutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agricultural Experiment Station Circulars by an authorizedadministrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, pleasecontact michael.biondo@sdstate.edu.Recommended CitationGelderman, R.; Carson, P.; and Gerwing, J., "Fertilizing for Grass Seed Production" (1987). Agricultural Experiment Station Circulars.Paper 272.http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/agexperimentsta_circ/272Fertilizing for Grass Seed Production Agricultural Experiment Station South Dakota State University U.S. Department of Agriculture C246 C246 Fertilizing for Grass Seed Production Seed production from grass is highly dependent upon favorable moisture and good soil fertility. Both moisture and fertility must be present; one does little good without the other. A good grass seed crop needs about the same amounts of nutrients as either corn or oats. Table 1 shows relative comparisons of nutrients taken up by comparable-yielding crops. Successful grass seed production also requires an adequate stand, weed control, and use of adapted varieties. These are discussed in C 244, "Grass Seed Production: Guidelines," available from your county Extension agent.· Soil testing As with all other crops, a soil test-either under an existing stand or of a field being considered for grass production-is one of your most important tools. For stand establishment, take samples from an 0-6 inch and a 6-24 inch soil depth (see FS 633, Taking soil samples). The deep­depth sample will measure any residual soil-available nitrogen. High soil-available nitrogen may lead to excess weed or companion­crop growth in the year of establishment. (Follow guidelines in FS 525P for current weed control methods for forage grasses.] An excellent time to broadcast and work in nutrients other than nitrogen is before planting. After stand establishment, you are limited to surface broadcasting in solid stands. Ron Gelderman, Paul Carson, and Jim Gerwing Plant Science Department, SDSU Nitrogen Nitrogen (NJ is almost always the most limiting nutrient for grass seed production in South Dakota. With low N, grasses become pale green, stunted, and do not tiller. Established stands can soon become unproductive and "sodbound." Grass usually has its best seed yields within the first 3 to 5 years after establishment. Seed yields will then begin to drop (Table 2), although sufficient f�rtilizer N will slow that decrease appreciably. (The lack of response to fertilizer during the first 2 years in the study may have been due to an already high level of available soil N.) Table 1. Nutrient quantities contained in smooth bromegrass, oats, and corn for comparable yields . Crop Corn Oats Smooth bromegrass -------Nutrient -------Yield N P205 K20 S --------�M--------100 bu/A 140 50 150 17 100 bu/A 130 39 120 18 4ton/A 128 33 172 20 Table 2. Grass seed yields as a ffected by year and N level . Grass Smooth bromegrass' Smooth bromegrass Crested wheatgrass 2 Crested wheatgrass Intermediate wheatgrass 3 Intermediate wheatgrass Smooth bromegrass• Smooth bromegrass N -----Year after establishment-----level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 lb/A -------- lb/acre --------0 445 306 162 282 96 1 00 535 294 183 548 234 0 378 406 207 290 279 100 295 391 220 453 342 0 393 186 129 65 118 100 367 161 133 104 207 0 310 121 204 167 47 19 2 133 264 127 114 480 222 178 131 'Average of seven varieties at Fargo, NO. 2Average of two varieties at Fargo, NO. 3Average of three varieties at Fargo, ND . •uncoln smooth bromegrass at Fargo, ND. Source: Dodds et al, 1987. 3 Although seed yields decline after the year of establishment, with or without N, seed and forage yields from even a 6-year old sodbound stand can be improved dramatically when N is applied (Table 3). Table 3. Influence of nitrogen fertilizer on seed and forage yields of a ''sodbound'' smooth bromegrass stand. Rate of N* Seed yield Hay yield -------- lbs/A --------0 199 1940 30 391 3760 60 641 5160 90 858 6020 120 1008 6840 • Applied in fall, all treatments had 80 lb/ A P20s, Source: Carson, 1950. Rate of nitrogen Grass forage production requires about 25 lb N per ton of hay. Seed yields are related to forage yields (Fig 1): For every 100 lb of forage, approximately 8 lb of seed is produced. Although crude, this gives you a way to determine a realistic seed yield from forage yields of your area. The N rate recommendation for grass seed in Table 4 is a general guideline only. Your yield goals also depend on available stored soil moisture and expected moisture. Set an optimistic but realistic goal. If very good moisture conditions exist. a 3-to 4-ton forage yield may be expected in western South Dakota. If soil moisture is low or draughty soils exist, a 1- to 2-ton forage yield can be expected in eastern South Dakota. Table 4. South Dakota grass forage and seed nitrogen recommendations. Area of Hay Seed Recommended state yield yield nitrogen ton/A lb/A lb/A Western SD 1 150 25 2 300 50 Central SD 3 450 75 4 600 100 Eastern SD 5 750 125 1 - 0 D Q.I -D O a.a - 0 0 � Q.T-" 0 0 CD� 0 _J (I) Q.8 -- 'O o<= D 0 _J "' 0 UJ (I) - :c, 0 >- 0 Q5 -.c 0 01-UJ� 0 UJ Cl) 0 0 Q.4 - D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D.3 - 0 OIP 0 D 0 D 0 ra i:51 c:P 0 00 0..2 - 0 D O ClJ �a W3 D D D Q.I - 0 0 o,a 0 [} 0 Bo riiJ E -a, D - °ra Cb 0 0 0 I I I I I I 0 2 4 G (Thousands) FORAGE YIELD.LB/A Fig 1. Relationship of grass seed yield to grass forage production. It is often said that high N rates lead to decreased seed yields. This bas not been verified by research in the Northern Great Plains. Forage yield and seed yields have generally increased proportionately with increasing N rates. Even with N applied a hove nutritional needs, seed yields are not adversely affected (Table 5). If production is severely limited (usually because of lack of moisture] all of the applied N may not be utilized. Lower the following Table 5. Seed and forage yields from Northern smooth bromegrass at six nitrogen levels. Faff broadcast Seed nitrogen yield -----lb/A-----0 18 33 61 66 104 133 130 200 129 266 159 Source: Carter, 1961 . 4 Forage yield ton/A 1.19 1.55 2.30 2.90 3.61 3.71 year's N application by 20-30%. The nitrate-nitrogen soil test has not been calibrated for established grass as it has with other crops in South Dakota. Therefore, it is not used for grass. Lodging can occur when taller grass varieties are overfertilized. Lodging usually happens when wind and rain coincide with a heavy seed set. The seed usually can be picked up with a stripper. swather, or combine, and the heavier seed yields usually offset any costs for added harvest time due to lodging. In some varieties, such as green needlegrass which is very susceptible to seed shattering by wind, lodging actually may be an advantage. since it will decrease shattering. The seed heads, being closer to the ground, will be more protected from wind. If the N rates in Table 4 are followed, lodging should not be a major problem. Do not apply N when starting new grass stands; you will only get a flush of weed growth. Wait until the grass seedlings are well established and weeds are controlled. Then spread 30-50 lb N. Fertilizer N usually is not needed for stands seeded on summer fallow until after the establishment year. Timing of nitrogen application Many cool-season grasses initiate the tiller buds (which produce the next year's seed heads) in the preceding fall. Consequently, grass plants need adequate nutrition at this time (Tables 6 and 7). However, research does not always show that early fall fertilizing is any better than in early spring or late fall (Table 8). The N nutrition of an adequately fertilized grass stand is sufficient Table 6. Influence of time of nitrogen application on Russian wild ryegrass seed and forage production.* Time of application After seed harvest (July) September 15 October 15 April D (0.05)** Seed Forage yield yield dry matter ----lb/A----143 49 35 68 22 2340 2320 2400 3320 320 * Mean of 3 years. N application at 50 lb/A. • *The difference required for means to be "significantly" different. Source: Lawrence and Kilcher, 1964. Table 7. Influence of time and rate of nitrogen application on crested wheatgrass seed production. Nitrogen lb/A 0 20 40 60 120 -Time of applicavon-Fa/1 Spring ---lb/A seed---25 25 143 53 187 132 285 144 574 233 Source: Brage, 1951. when tiller buds are induced in the fall. When applying N to cool-season grasses in the spring, do it as early as possible. Delaying until after the grass greens up may limit seed yields (Table 9). On sandy soils where N leaching may be a problem, a split application (a third of the N in the fall and the rest in the spring) is desirable. Any fall applications on sandy soils should be applied late (after the soil temperature is below 50 F). If less than 2 or 3 inches of snow cover exists, winter application is acceptable unless slopes are greater than 2 % . If there is no snow cover, N can be applied any time. For warm-season grasses, apply N just prior to the start of growth in the spring, usually from May 1 to May 15 in South Dakota. Sources of nitrogen The most common dry N fertilizer is urea. Urea can be susceptible to volatilization (gaseous loss of NJ if not worked into the soil. However, a number of studies comparing urea to ammonium nitrate (which is not subject to volatilization) has shown little forage yield difference between the two N sources (Table 10). Most South Dakota studies indicate a small advantage for ammonium nitrate. If possible, apply urea when the chances of precipitation are greatest, usually preceding weather fronts that contain rain or snow. Cool weather inhibits volatilization of urea. Applications made after October, through the winter, and into early spring will be safe from volatilization. Table 8. Effect of time and rate of N application on smooth bromegrass seed production. Fertilized early' Fertilized late2 ------- Years ------- ------- Years -------N 60 61 62 Ave. 60 61 62 Ave. -----------------lb/A ----------------0 576 336 51 321 576 336 51 33 569 459 153 394 651 608 187 66 558 636 226 473 552 697 389 100 545 810 163 506 629 836 152 133 508 825 125 506 518 807 119 Ave. 577 664 145 462 596 700 175 'Early-10/29/59, 8/30/60. 8/7 / 61. 2Late-Spring 60, 10/7/60, 10/5/61. Source: Dodds et al. 1987. Table 9. Effect of time of nitrogen application on smooth bromegrass seed production. 321 482 546 539 481 490 ------- Site 1 ------- ------- Site 2 ----------------------Date fertilized---------------Nitrogen 10127/49 5112150 10/27/49 4/10150 -------------------iliM-------------------0 243 260 175 175 50 700 375 332 324 80 812 387 529 562 120 877 512 937 828 Source: Carson, 1950. 5 Liquid N should be as effective as dry N sources. Apply liquid N prior to green-up. Anhydrous ammonia is a suitable N source for grass seed production if grass is grown in rows. Phosphorus Even if soil tests for phosphorus (P) are low (Tables 11 and 12), it appears grass is less responsive to added P than are other crops. Mycorrhizal fungi commonly grow on perennial grass roots. These fungi are known to make soil P more available to plant roots. Or adequate P may be supplied from decomposition of root and thatch material. Table 11. Influence of added* phosphorus and nitrogen on smooth brome grass seed production. -Phosphorus rate, lb/A P205 -Nitrogen O 40 BO lb/A ----seed yield, lb/A----0 30 60 90 120 166 378 553 577 751 175 332 529 678 937 199 391 641 857 1008 • Fall applied. Soil test was very low in phosphorus. Source: Carson, 1950. Table 12. Influence of added phosphorus and nitrogen on creeping meadow foxtail seed yields. Phosphorus rate*, lb/A P205 Nitrogen O 40 ------- lb/A --------0 30 60 120 240 3 13 36 156 245 *Soil P test = 8 lb/A, fall fertilized. Source: Ward et al, 1968. 3 18 53 161 310 The response to P is not as pronounced if N level is low. Nor is response to N as good if P is low Table 10. Effect of nitrogen source on grass forage yields. ----- -------Nitrogen rate (lb!A)-------0 -----ro----- ----140-----Grass urea AN* Urea AN Urea AN ----------lb/A, 12% moisture----------Smooth bromegrass Native Native Switch grass Big bluestem Average • Ammonium nitrate. 1680 1249 3197 3096 1113 2067 Source: Williamson and Carson, 1973. 1:JCI 0 l20 -4: :le t10 -� D CJ) 0 4: fl() - BD w D I D CJ � 0 ., - D O 0 w >-4: ao -w cti a: TD -0 80 I I I 0 2D D 3984 2708 4250 4235 3698 3775 0 0 I 40 I 4510 2760 4341 4467 4770 4170 0 0 I 80 4424 2881 4957 5468 5561 4658 I I ao 4748 2579 4775 5371 5870 4669 I 0 SOIL TEST P,LB/A Fig 2. Relationship of relative grass forage yield to Bray-1 phosphorus soil test. (Table 11). All nutrients must be adequate to get good seed yields. The general P recommendation for grass seed production is shown in Table 13. Relative grass forage yield as affected by soil test is shown in Figure 2. With limited data, it appears that increased yield will be very slight a hove 15 lb/A of soil test P. In general, if soil test P levels are low (less than 15 lb/A), 6 Table 13. South Dakota phosphorus recommendations for grass seed production. Soil test Phosphorus recommendation Prange P2D5 ---------lb/ A---------<15 15-30 >30 40 20 0 co fertilizer P should be applied before stand establishment. On established stands-, surface­applied P will be used by grass, although there will be little increased yield if the surface soils are dry during the growing season. Other nutrients Sandy soils with low organic matter levels may be prone to sulfur deficiencies. A soil test will determine the nutrient status of potassium, sulfur, and other secondary and micro nutrients. Data from South Dakota and other states in the Great Plains have not shown a large need for nutrients other than N and P for grass seed production. References Adams, E.P. and E.J. Williamson. 1979. Taking soil samples. SDSU CES FS633. Brage, B.L. 1951. Unpublished data. South Dakota State Univ, Brookings, SD. Carson, P.L. 1950. Unpublished data. South Dakota State Univ, Brookings, SD. Carter, J. 1961. IN Fertilizing for grass seed production, C. Fanning, ed. Crop Production and Soil Management Newsletter. NDSU CES vol 1, 1987. Dodds, D .. J. Carter, D. Meyer, and R. Haas. 1987. Grass seed production in North Dakota. NDSU CES 14AGR-7. Lawrence. T. and M.R. Kilcher. 1964. Effect of time of fertilizer application on seed and forage yield of Russian wild ryegrass. J Range Mgt 17:272-273. Soil Fertility Staff. Unpublished data. South Dakota State Univ, Brookings, SD. Twidwell. E.K.. M.K. Beutler, K.D. Kephart, A. Boe and R.J. Pollmann. 1987. Grass seed production in South Dakota: Guidelines. SDSU AES C244. 7 Ward, R.C., E.P. Adams, E.J. Williamson, P.L. Carson, J. Pfeifer, G. Grenz and C. Bigger. 1969. Soil fertility and management: field experiments. P. 93. South Dakota State Univ .. Brookings, SD. Williamson, E.J. and P.L. Carson. 1973. Unpublished data. South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD. Publishea in accor<lance with an act passe<l in 1881 by the 14th Legislative Assembly, Dakota Territory. establishing the Dakota Agricultural College and with the act of re· organization passed in 1887 by the 17th Legislative Assembly, which established the Agricultural Experiment Station at South Dakota State University. 

Fertilizing for Grass Seed Production

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Fertilizing for Grass Seed Production

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