One Hundred Forage Seeding Mixture1

Abstract Forage mixtures consisting of one to three legumes and of one to three grasses were established in four experiments at three locations in Illinois. The legumes were alfalfa, red clover, and Ladino clover. The grasses were timothy, smooth brome, and orchardgrass. In three trials the forage was harvested as hay and in the fourth trial it was grazed. Forage yields and botanical composition were studied. Alfalfa and orchardgrass had the greatest influence on the performance of the mixtures. When alfalfa was added to a mixture the total yield of forage was increased because the decrease in grass was not as great as the increase in the legume. When orchardgrass was added to a mixture the grass component was increased but there was a comparable decrease in the legume so the total yield remained about the same. The amount of alfalfa and orchardgrass seed in a mixture required to achieve most of the effects of these species was surprisingly low.