ABSTRACT:
Grass seed is planted frequently over large areas. Yet seeding failure is com- mon. ?he recommended seeding rate for most grasses is to plant 20 live seeds or more to get one live plant. Even this extravagant strategy fails to overcome grass seeding prob- lems. Application of small amounts of water in the seed firrow reduced the seed require- ment by half and improved the probabilityfor grass establishment. The water can be applied in the seed firrow with standard agricultural spray equipment, roller pumps, or other equipment commonly found on farms and ranches. The minimum recommended application rate is 30 ml/m, and the optimum rate is 60 ml/m (0.31 and 0.62 liquid ounces/foot).
Footnotes
Victor L. Hauser is an agricultural engineer with the Agricultural Research Service, US. Department of Agriculture, 808 East Backland Road, Temple, Texas 76502. This article is a contribution from ARS, USDA. The author thanks engineering technician Norman D. Erskine for building and assembling equipment, plot installation, data collection, data analysis, and drafting and for his careful attention to accuracy in all field and laboratory work. The use of trade or brand names does not imply endorsement by USDA.
- Copyright 1989 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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