Pineland
Well-known member
Looking for some opinions on a few different routes to take in some pasture development. We recently clear cut ~80 acres of bottom land which is a sandy loam. The bottom land has some seasonably flooding (when we have rain). We have the ability control the amount of water we hold during these times.
We are currently clearing the land to have a somewhat suitable seedbed.
That being said we are running to crossroad where we will either need to pile and burn or mulch the left over debris from pine and hardwoods to put the carbon back in the soil? We are getting quotes from $350 to $450 per acre for mulching. We have already burned several large piles of debris already.
This soil is acidic, so I know we are going to have to add a lime and that amount will depend on the type of grass we put in.
Other factors to consider:
The land is a sandy loam bottom in east texas.
Converted Herd from SimiAngus to Brangus.
Our adjacent pastures were Bahia until this years drought. After significant irrigation, they reverted back to a common Bermuda Grass.
Have access to unlimited Chicken Litter.
Land was pasture 30 years ago; predominately Bermuda, Bahia and sericea Lespedeza.
Current Soil Sample from upper 40 acres - PH 5.2, P-19ppm, K-30ppm,Ca-163ppm, and Mg-33ppm.
Current Soil Sample from lower 40 acres- PH 5.1, P-10ppm, K-47ppm, Ca-299, and Mg-71ppm.
The objective is to bring this back into production and have find an equilibrium with inputs and production. So we have a low input option with bahia and a higher input option with Jiggs Bermuda. Given the current cost for inputs, what path would you take and why.
Option A- Bahia Grass and with limited lime and fertilize as needed.
Option B- Bahia/Dallis mix with lime and fertilize as needed.
Option C- Jiggs Bermuda with significant lime and fertilizer as needed.
Option D- Plant Pearl Millet this year and grass next year..
Option E- Other
To mulch or not to mulch.
Thanks in advance!
We are currently clearing the land to have a somewhat suitable seedbed.
That being said we are running to crossroad where we will either need to pile and burn or mulch the left over debris from pine and hardwoods to put the carbon back in the soil? We are getting quotes from $350 to $450 per acre for mulching. We have already burned several large piles of debris already.
This soil is acidic, so I know we are going to have to add a lime and that amount will depend on the type of grass we put in.
Other factors to consider:
The land is a sandy loam bottom in east texas.
Converted Herd from SimiAngus to Brangus.
Our adjacent pastures were Bahia until this years drought. After significant irrigation, they reverted back to a common Bermuda Grass.
Have access to unlimited Chicken Litter.
Land was pasture 30 years ago; predominately Bermuda, Bahia and sericea Lespedeza.
Current Soil Sample from upper 40 acres - PH 5.2, P-19ppm, K-30ppm,Ca-163ppm, and Mg-33ppm.
Current Soil Sample from lower 40 acres- PH 5.1, P-10ppm, K-47ppm, Ca-299, and Mg-71ppm.
The objective is to bring this back into production and have find an equilibrium with inputs and production. So we have a low input option with bahia and a higher input option with Jiggs Bermuda. Given the current cost for inputs, what path would you take and why.
Option A- Bahia Grass and with limited lime and fertilize as needed.
Option B- Bahia/Dallis mix with lime and fertilize as needed.
Option C- Jiggs Bermuda with significant lime and fertilizer as needed.
Option D- Plant Pearl Millet this year and grass next year..
Option E- Other
To mulch or not to mulch.
Thanks in advance!