When should lime and fertilizer be applied to make necessary corrections prior to seeding alfalfa?
If the pH is lower than 6.2, lime and fertilizer should be applied at least 6 months prior to seeding. 3. How come my no-till forage seeding resulted in a poor stand? There are a number of reasons that this could have occurred. As you search for the particular problem(s) that was responsible for your poor stand, we suggest you carefully reexamine the following aspects of your forage program: (1) Soil fertility – What was the soil pH and the residual levels of the major nutrients at the time of seeding? Whenever the soil pH is too acidic or the P level is too low, corrections need to be made well in advance of seeding. Because the fertilizer nutrients must be surface applied in a no-till system, they need to be added at least 1 year, and possibly 2 years, prior to seeding. (2) Soil properties – Are there problems with drainage or compaction? (3) Existing vegetation – Did you make the seeding into an aggressive perennial? (4) Herbicide program – Could there have been damage to the stand
