1980-07-11_REVISION - M1977493 (8)

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Yellow sweet clover was seeded in a mix along with cicer milkvetch and white clover in the 1969 Climax planting . This species established good stands in 1969 and grew well in 1970 , but did not set seed . Thus, this species must be regarded strictly as a biennial which will not reproduce at high elev- ations ( 11 , 000 feet) . Volunteer stands of sweet clover are common at elevations of 9,000 feet and lower. The species adaption plots give information on the adaptability to Climax conditions of many of the presently commercially available species. More intensive work on selec- tions within species, including more native species , is underway by Robin Cuany of the CSU Agronomy Department. Some of his plots are also located at Climax, and will be discussed later in this section. The plantings described above were established on nearly-level benches on mixtures of subsoil and glacial till . The soil is loamy and contains 20-40% coarse fragments. Each plot area was fertilized at the rate of 60 pounds N and 200 pounds P2O5 before furrowing on 12-inch centers and broadcasting seed into the furrows . Nitrogen, as ammonium nitrate, has been applied nearly every year since seeding at the rate of 60 pounds N/acre . 9 . 3 MANURE RATE FIELD STUDY ON TAILING, 1973 Greenhouse studies on Climax tailing reveal that to obtain maximum vegetation cover on the tailing , several steps must taken: 1 . Liming 2. Leaching treatment after liming 3. NPK fertilization Under field conditions , application of adequate lime and maintaining adequate N levels for optimbm plant growth are difficult. This manure rate study was put in to evaluate the effectiveness of moderate to high rates of manure in maintaining plant-available N in the tailing under field conditions at Climax. 9-6