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• <br />No mulch is to be applied on lands reclaimed to irrigated land use. This would only <br />provide additional opportunities for establishment of competing annual and perennial weedy <br />species and volunteer grain that would negatively impact the stand. The use of irrigation <br />will establish an effective vegetative cover in a relatively short time after seeding. <br />Companion crops of annual grains will also not be used during stand establishment. While <br />some erosion and weed control benefits might be gained, the potential for reduced stand <br />establishment and density is real (Heath et al. 1985, Ensign et al. 1975, D. Smith, <br />personal communication, April 1988). A companion crop's greatest importance (or <br />advantage) has been in providing a cash crop to the operator during the first season <br />following pasture seeding. The cover crop, mentioned earlier as a means of temporary <br />stabilization, is not a companion crop. <br />Fertilization will be carried out based on the results of soil tests taken in replaced <br />topsoil and recommended rates for stand maintenance and achieving the various production <br />levels desired. Nitrogen is not essential to the establishment of new pasture or hayland <br />seedings if adequate soil levels exist, while heavy initial rates may be detrimental to <br />stand establishment. If soils show a low nitrogen fertility, an application of 30-60 <br />pounds /acre of available nitrogen should be adequate for establishment (Ensign 1975). <br />Phosphorus is beneficial both to the establishment of new seedlings and the established <br />legume component. Phosphorus rates will be determined on the basis of the soil test. <br />Initial applications, made prior to seeding, will be incorporated. Annual applications of <br />fertilizer will be carried out and will be based on soil tests and achieving the desired <br />production goals, but will not be at augmentation levels. <br />Two irrigated pasture mixes and one irrigated alfalfa hayland mix have been developed in <br />order to establish the irrigated pasture or hayland types on the range of site conditions <br />that may be encountered in the areas to be reclaimed. Seed Mix #5 has been developed for <br />upland, well - drained sites, while Seed Mix #6 has been developed for Lowland areas or <br />other areas that may be poorly drained. Seed Mix #7 is the irrigated hayland mix. The <br />irrigated pasture mixes have a fair range of adaptability for drier or wetter sites that <br />may develop in the principal areas where the mixes are used. <br />22 -20 Revised 07/25/91 <br />