Preparing for Eastern gamma grass.

[dmcdaniel]

Hello, I am not new to cattle but very raw at posting, so I hope I am doing this right. I am preparing to plant 22 acres of eastern gamma grass in March of 2012. I have purchased treated seeds that will be delivered in March. My question is: The pasture that I will be planting is in bahia now. I have heard that I can kill the bahia by using a bottom plow to turn it under. Has anyone used this method and had any luck. Any info is appreciated.

 

[brs]

I haven't the tried killing bahia with a bottom plow, but I wasted my share of money on gamma grass seed. I would bottom plow twice , roan plough twice pack it. three weeks later do it again. three weeks plow it again spray it with atraizine before and ally. starter fertilizer when you plant,pray for rain. in central texas we would plant a little earlier. great grass when it get going in two to three years.

 

[novatech]

Plowing will kill what you see. The Bahia will have a very good seed bank built up, along with the weeds. So when you plow they will also germinate. I prefer spraying with roundup and then no til the seed into the ground. Gamma is slow to get started. The Gamma will eventually choke it out if the growing conditions are more right for it than the Bahia and you let it reseed. Most of the gamma I have seen does best in the bottom land. If your seed was prestratified then you will have a better germination rate. If not then you should do it yourself before planting.