Pennington Seed, Inc. Partnership

In an effort to further assist landowners, managers, and sportsman we have formulated a relationship with Pennington Seed Company. This partnership was established to provide additional learning opportunities for those interested in understanding how wildlife species interact with wildlife forage plantings. These statewide demonstrations, conducted on MAFES and other university facilities, will be used to establish wildlife “food plots” to assist those who are interested in the identification of recommended varieties and management activities associated with establishing these plantings. The practice of planting food plots for wildlife has been around for some time and has escalated exponentially across the state in recent decades. Some professionals criticize food plots because when misapplied they often escalate into a competition between landowners or clubs and carry many away from the intended benefits and management ethics traditionally associated with the practice. Our hope is to demonstrate the advantages of establishing a management protocol to help people understand how to determine where the plantings will provide the best outcomes, how to plant and manage food plots, when to plant specific forage varieties, and what to plant for the desired wildlife species and the expected outcomes from that planting.

You may visit our demonstration areas at the following locations:

North Mississippi Research Station – Holly Springs, MS
Coastal Plains Branch Experiment Station – Newton, MS
Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Experiment Station – Pontotoc, MS
Delta Research and Extension Center – Stoneville, MS
The Lifeskills/Development Center – West Point, MS

Pennington Project Update, 2006

Wildlife Forage Demonstration

Introduction

Beginning in October of 2005, we established and performed visual evaluations on a variety of forage varieties commonly recommended by wildlife biologists and used by many wildlife managers across Mississippi. These wildlife demonstration plots were established on five Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Stations (MAFES) and other University Facilities throughout Mississippi. The role of evaluating forages on these stations was implemented to better understand the growth characteristics of wildlife forages in the various soil types found around Mississippi. These demonstration plots also provide field-day attendees and other individuals visiting our MAFES stations a way to observe and understand growth characteristics from a variety of wildlife forages.

Demonstration Areas

We used plot establishment methods similar to those encountered in field settings. These included outlining a 1/8th acre area for each variety or mix planted. Next, we performed site prep of these areas to delineate plot locations with herbicide and mechanical treatments. Typically this included a chemical treatment to kill existing vegetation followed by intense disking. This was done to provide a baseline for observation and critique of each variety used.

The plots were established to provide demonstrations and evaluations on 8 varieties commonly used as wildlife forage plantings during both the spring and summer growing seasons. Additional plots were created to evaluate varieties that have only seasonal growth patterns like cool season annuals. For instance, Alfalfa, Ladino/Osceola, and Durana clover plots are examples of varieties that will continue to grow well during the spring and summer months and were left to complete their growth cycle in the series of 8 plots. If these existing legume plantings were established and demonstrated good production, we continued to treat them with Post™ or Select™ to control cool season weeds that invaded plot locations and applied 0-20-20 to help maintain ideal growth characteristics. The remaining plots were disked under and re-used for spring/summer plots or mowed and left fallow if new plot locations were selected for the spring/summer varieties.

Forage Varieties Used for 2006 Plantings

Fall & Winter Varieties

Alfalfa
Austrian Winter Peas
Chicory
Crimson Clover
Red Clover
Ladino Clover

1. Osceola
2. Regal
3. Durana

Wildflower Mix

1. Assorted Wildflowers

Mississippi Complete Mix

1. Wheat
2. Oats
3. Crimson Clover
4. Arrowleaf Clover

Deer Greens Mix

1. Rape
2. Kale
3. White turnips           

These cool-season wildlife plantings were established as follows; from late September to early October we prepared a firm seed bed by disking and then culti-packing each plot. Subject to soil test results, lime was added to bring soil pH to 6.5 or higher. Next, a herbicide treatment of glyphospate was applied to each plot area, as per label instructions, to remove any residual competition from existing vegetation. Following the herbicide treatment we waited 2 to 3 days, depending on location, and planted each variety. The planting took place between October 10th and October 20th due to low soil moisture. We followed the typical recommendations for establishment of each variety as follows.

1. Alfalfa
1. Fertilization 300 lbs per acre of 0-20-20
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 7.0
3. Planting date September 1 to October 15
4. Planting rate Inoculate and drill 15 lbs per acre ¼ inch deep, or broadcast 18 lbs per acre and culti-pack to ½ deep

1. Austrian Winter Peas
1. Fertilization 200 lbs per acre of 0-20-20
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates inoculate and drill 40 lbs per acre ½ deep, or broadcast 60 lbs per acres and cover with 1 inch of soil

1. Chicory
1. Fertilization 300 lbs per acre of 50-5-5
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates inoculate and drill 5 lbs per acre ¼ inch deep, or broadcast 6 lbs per acre and culti-pack

1. Crimson Clover
1. Fertilization 300 lbs per acre of 0-20-20
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates inoculate and drill 15 lbs per acre ¼ inch deep, or broadcast 20 lbs per acre and culti-pack

1. Red Clover
1. Fertilization 300 lbs per acre of 0-20-20
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates inoculate and drill 8 lbs per acre ¼ inch deep, or broadcast 10 lbs per acre and culti-pack

1. Ladino Clovers
1. Fertilization 400 lbs per acre of 0-20-20
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates inoculate and drill 4 lbs per acre ¼ inch deep, or broadcast 5 lbs per acre and culti-pack

1. Wildflower Mix
1. Fertilization 100 lbs per acre of 13-13-13
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates broadcast 10 lbs per acre and culti-pack

1. Mississippi Complete Mix
1. Fertilization 300 lbs per acre of 13-13-13
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates drill or broadcast 40 lbs per acre, used culti-packer on sites that were seeded by broadcast
2. Deer Greens Mix
1. Fertilization 100 lbs per acre of 13-13-13
2. Lime maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
3. Planting dates September 1 to November 1
4. Planting rates drill or broadcast 10 lbs per acre, used culti-packer on sites that were seeded by broadcast                 

Spring & Summer Varieties

Lab-Lab
Iron & Clay Cow Peas
Soybeans
Sunflower
Dove/Quail Mix

1. Sunflower
2. Proso Millet
3. Brown-top Millet
4. Grain Sorghum

Deer/Turkey Mix

1. Soybeans
2. Iron & Clay Cow Peas
3. Buckwheat
4. Sunflower
5. Grain Sorghum

To illustrate the importance of warm season varieties, each of these plantings were established as follows; beginning in early April we started by preparing a firm seed bed by disking and culti-packing each plot. Herbicide treatments for weed control were applied, per label directions, prior to planting and during the growing season to control undesirable competition. Then we followed the typical recommendations for establishment of each variety. Individual legume varieties were treated with an over the top application of Prowl™, Post™, or Select™ to control grass competition during the growing season. The Dove/Quail & Deer/Turkey mixes were not treated with over-the-top herbicides because they had components that were intolerant to these treatments.

1. Lab Lab:
1. Fertilization 300 pounds per acre of 0-20-20.
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5
3. Planting dates April 15 to June 15.
4. Planting rates Drill 5 to 10 pounds per acre at 1/4 of an inch, or broadcast 10 to 20 pounds per acre and cover ½ to ¾ of an inch.

1. Cow Peas:
1. Fertilization 100 pounds per acre of 0-20-20.
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0
3. Planting dates May 1 to July 1.
4. Planting rates Plant 15 pounds per acre in 24 to 36 inch rows or broadcast 25 pounds per acre and cover 1 inch. Inoculants required.

1. Soybeans:
1. Fertilization 300 pounds per acre of 0-20-20.
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 5.8 to 7.0
3. Planting dates May 1 to June 1.
4. Planting rates Plant 30 pounds per acre in 24 to 36 inch rows or drill 30 pounds per acre at 10 inch row spacing or broadcast 50 pounds per acre and cover 1/2 of an inch; Inoculants required.

1. Sunflower:
1. Fertilization 300 pounds per acre of 13-13-13.
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5
3. Planting dates April 15 to June 15. If planted for doves, plant before May 15 to ensure seed maturity for dove shoots in September.
4. Planting rates Drill or broadcast 10 to 15 pounds per acre at 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch. For best results, plant 15 pounds of seed per acre in 36 inch rows

1. Dove/Quail Mix:
1. Fertilization use 300 pounds per acre of 13-13-13
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5
3. Planting dates April 1 to July 31
4. Planting rates Drill or broadcast 40 pounds of seed per acre. Plant no deeper than ¼ to ½ inch.

1. Deer/Turkey Mix:
1. Fertilization use 300 pounds per acre of 13-13-13
2. Lime requirements maintain a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5
3. Planting dates April 1 to July 31
4. Planting rates Drill or broadcast 50 pounds of seed per acre. Plant no deeper than ½ to 1 inch.

Planting Results

We found varying results from our visual observations across all soil types. These were probably due to several confounding factors like weather, soil-moisture, non-specific competition from weeds, and timing of prescriptions.

Fall & Winter

Over-winter growth was measured for all plantings and can be summarized by plant growth type. In general, the clovers, Alfalfa, and winter peas had much better establishment rates across all soil types and showed significantly less impacts from weedy competition. The chicory and deer greens mix suffered, probably due to low soil moisture, and had very low < 50% establishment rates averaged across all soil types. These varieties also incurred much more weedy invasion as compared to the clover plantings.

During the second growing season similar results were visualized within these demonstration plots. The clover and Alfalfa plots were well established and easily maintained but the chicory, and Kale had nearly disappeared from the established demonstration plots.

Hence, our recommendation to individuals interested in fall/winter plantings for wildlife is to plant and maintain a variety of clovers across properties and manage selected forages on a seasonal basis. Examples of these additional forages include Austrian Winter Peas, Wheat, Oats, Rye, or established mixes of these varieties.

Spring & Summer

Growing season production was measured by visual assessment for all varieties included in this phase of the demonstration project and, as mentioned previously, varied among plant types. Visual inspections were performed twice during the growing season to measure growth rate or production, rate of establishment, and resistance to undesirable weeds. In addition to looking at growing season production of clover plots we also looked at the growing season establishment and production of Soybeans, Lab Lab, and Iron & Clay peas as wildlife forage.
The observations reported were generally the same for all station locations. The clovers all performed very well across all soil types. They had very good growth rates, had < 10% weedy competition and produced consistent biomass on average. The differences occurred in seasonal legume plantings. Lab Lab performed the poorest of three varieties we used. It had the least amount of forage production, highest % of weedy competition, and established at a lower rate than did the Soybeans and Iron & Clay peas. However, we observed better production from Lab Lab later in the growing season between August – September. The Soybeans and Iron Clay peas both performed very well in our demonstration plots across all soil types. Each had <10% weedy competition, produced excellent amounts of biomass, and established at a rate higher, 85% within the plots on average.

The specialty mixes included in this demonstration were also evaluated based on similar parameters as the legumes and performed equally well within our demonstration plots. Both mixes were evaluated visually for seed abundance, weedy competition, and rate of establishment. There little difference between the mixes across soil types. Furthermore, these mixes produced an abundance of seed in staggered intervals, ideal for managing avian wildlife species across several months. They both had <10% weedy competition, and established at over 95% on average.

Our recommendations for planting warm season legumes for forage and other wildlife plantings designed to produce grain for wildlife are as follows. Use warm season legumes that have a high tolerance to a wide variety of growing conditions for Mississippi soil types. We found Iron & Clay peas to be superior to Lab Lab and Soybeans when planted during April and May of the year. This variety also seems to withstand low soil moisture and high browsing pressure better than the other two varieties we observed. This was evidenced by the continual production of leafy biomass during the growing season after terminal buds had been repeatedly browsed. Soybeans and Lab Lab didn’t exhibit this continued effort during our observations.

When selecting or formulating a mix to produce grain for wildlife always use a mix with at least 5 varieties at liberal rates for a more complete and productive mix. By incorporating legumes, like Iron & Clay peas or others into this mix you will increase attractiveness to a wider diversity of wildlife including game and non-game birds and mammals.