INOCULATON

[MissouriExile]

I am purchasing red clover seed and have a question about options.

The seed I am purchasing is coated but not inoculated. I can buy the inoculant substance for about $2.50 per hundredweight of seed.

I don't understand what inoculation does for seed. Also; is it advisable or necessary?

Also; If I plant the Red Clover now (our local weather will feature increasing periods of warm sunny days followed by blasts of intense cold and frost as spring approaches) Is there a danger of it sprouting and then being killed off by frost?

I'm working hard to get this pasture improvment step right the first time, any help will be appreciated.

Jon

 

[IluvABbeef]

The inoculant is with rhibozoa that break down the outside seed layer so that water and nutrients can access the seed, and they aids in the growth of the red clover. And of course the rhibozoa help the seedling to start the N fixation It is necessary to have, otherwise you'd have to wait a loong time--up to a good couple years--for the red clover seeds to scarify enough so that they can grow. It's especially important to have the right type of rhibozoa with the right type of seed, or vice versa for your red clover to actually grow.

If the weather's gonna be like that, then I'd wait if I were you, because if you don't wait you might get a lot of seedling death. Best time to plant is when they don't predict periods of intense cold.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[dun]

In MO, from the middle of February until the beginning of March is good time to frost seed clover. Anytime during early February will work. With the short warm ups we'll have for the next 6-8 weeks the clover won;t germinate. The whole purpose of frost seeding is to allow the seed to be worked into the soil. If you already have clover growing, in theory you don;t need to inoculate it. The inoculate is pretty cheap insurance so I alwasy do it. If you're broadcasting coated seed, don;t use the roller type of agitator on the seed box. It will wear the coating off and leave you with a fine cement type powder, plus it can crush the seeds. I use the agitator with fertilizer but not with seed.

 

[MissouriExile]

Thanks to both replies. Valuable advice, much appreciated.
I am glad to know that I have to have the right type of inoculant for the clover being sown.

Jon

 

[novatech]

Hre is a good site that may help.http://www.extension.umn.edu/distributi ... 5963a.html

Also, it is a common misconception that the nitrogen added to the soil is from the nodules. The nodules will add very little N to the soil. Most if the N is provided by the forage. It is transferred back to the soil by decay of vegetation or through manure deposits.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

It is the right time to over seed here in ozarks. use the inoculate make for a better stand. I have saw articale that said inoculate did not work unless seed was drilled at least 1 inch deep. We always just broadcast. seems to work