Fertilizer‐Seed Placement with Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)1

Synopsis Precision placement of seed and fertilizers was conducted on soils of low fertility. Alfalfa was superior to birdsfoot trefoil in germination, seedling emergence, height, and weight. Alfalfa seedlings took up more posphorus, and birdsfoot trefoil took up more potassium. Both legumes showed reduced emergence when their seeds were close to concentrations of soluble fertilizers while soil moisture was low. Band seeding did not contribute to success in the establishment of birdsfoot trefoil to the degree that it did alfalfa.