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Seedihq. Procedures <br />4.4. Seeding Procedures - Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland <br />The optimum seeding season for establishment of irrigated pasture is during the spring as early <br />as soil moisture conditions allow for tillage and seeding operations. As a result of irrigation, <br />seeding may be carried out as late as June 15. This will allow for a 100 -120 day growing <br />season. enough time to establish an adequate stand capable of over - wintering. During initial <br />seeding of all reclaimed irrigated pasturelands (IP) with the permanent seed mix. an annual <br />companion grain cover crop of oats or barley will be used at the rate of 40 Ibs per acre. This will <br />provide rapid growth so little topsoil is lost to erosion while at the same time providing some <br />nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. This practice will help rejuvenate soils that have been in <br />stockpiles for long periods of time. By implementing this practice, the practice of adding manure <br />to these sods will not be implemented. <br />At times, the size or shape of the retopsoiled areas and shape of the reclaimed area in relation <br />to a management unit may be insufficient to warrant establishment of the perennial irrigated <br />;pasture species initially. When this occurs. and the period before establishment of permanent <br />irrigated pasture will extend beyond a year, Seed Mix #3 - Temporary Reclamation. will be <br />used. This mix will provide interim stabilization as well as organic matter benefits when <br />incorporated during tillage and seedbed preparation prior to seeding of the irrigated pasture <br />seed .mixes. <br />Seeding will be done either with a cultipacker type seeder or a drill equipped with double -disk <br />openers. depth bands. and packer wheels. A cultipacker may be used behind the drill to also <br />firm the seedbed. Either of these two types of seeding equipment will provide the greatest level <br />of success in terms of proper seed placement and firming of the soil around the seed. Seeding <br />depths are usually about 114 inch deep for the species to be seeded, and never more than 1 /1 <br />inch deep. If it is determined that the drill seeding method is not desirable for a particular area, <br />then a broadcast seeder will be utilized to distribute the grass seed onto the surface of the <br />ground, A large tractor mounted broadcaster having the capacity of holding several bushels of <br />grass seed will be used and the tractor will traverse the field such that overlapping of the seed <br />will occur. After the seed is broadcasted. a spring tooth harrow will be drug over the field to <br />Wednesday, June 30, 2010.max <br />