Alfagraze 300 RR was planted into a combination of droughty tall fescue and dormant bermudagrass along with cool-season annual grasses.  The soil was just dry enough after the first rain of any significance since last fall (about 5 months).  The seed went into moist soil and germinated pretty quickly.  Then we had almost several weeks no rain and many hot (90+) days with wind until the end of April.  In mid May alfalfa plant counts in quadrats showed an average of a little more than 1 alfalfa plant per square foot, but highly variable (typical of pasture observations).

On May 17, 2006 Roundup was applied in strips, 1’, 3’, or 5’ wide and 100+’ long at the rate of 22 oz/acre and 44 oz/acre in the strips to kill or suppress the competing vegetation.  The strips of Roundup were made perpendicular to the drill rows of alfalfa.  No difference in bermudagrass death (or suppression) the between the 22 oz and the 44 oz.

The soil fertility and depth in these pastures are highly variable but adequate for reasonably good production.  Soil pH is approximately 6.0 and soil test P and K are approximately 75% sufficient.

Images May 31, 2006
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