Legume Seed Production in the North

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LEGUME SEED
PRODUCTION

In the North

AWI-49

*7. S. DEPARTMENT of AGRICULTURE

final .-<

hilt Ik- I

mended that growers consult their State agri-
cultural experiment stations.

U| id.- pertinent -u^i-tion- lli.il apply to all
legume seed production, the following two
,-lioul.i lit- -penally emphasized:

1. Bees are needed for adequate polli-

. State apiarists can
:ate colonies of honey-
Holds fur pollination

looming legume
ces for moving 1

uircs care in harvesting and attention to every
ossible loss. Considerable shattered seed can.
ir example, he saved by covering the bot-
>m of the wagon with a canvas when the
■ed is being hauled to a stationary thresher.

ALFALFA

ertilizing.

Early spring applications of phosphate and
■it ash fertilizer a* tup dressing* on established
I fa 1 fa growing on sandy or porous soils have

ation ha- irun i-d -•■■■I production
i ngnm-. The kind and .|iiaiility of
to applv iliffi-r for i-aeh region and

and driest part of the summer usually pro-
duces the most seed. Over most of the coun-
try this is the second crop; south of Kansas it
may be the third; and in the extreme North
it is the first crop. Under a wide range of
conditions slow uniform growth and compara-
tively thin stands usually produce more seed
than thick stands or rank growth, which may

Production under irrigation.

Apply irrigation water with care, rno much
water stimulates rank growth and causes the
flowers to drop; too little causes the blossoms
to "burn." Kind of soil, height of water table.

Where injury by Lygus bugs i- set oils, .1

fields should be given a general fall and spring
clean-up and cultivation to destroy the hiber-
nating places of this and other insect nests that
cause serious losses of seed. All weeds and
plant trash should he removed or burned along
fences and ditch banks. A thorough cultiva-
tion with a spring-tooth harrow i= recom-
mended late in fall, early in spring, and imme-
diately after each crop ir- harvested.
Time to cut first crop.

duces leafhopper injury- the blooming period
of the second or third crop may be deiermined

causes the flowering period to occur during the
hottest, driest part of the season is desirable,
provided there is sufficient soil moisture to

crop and allowing the second to produce seed
is frequently more successful than mowing the
first crop for bay. This practice is particu-
larly advantageous in mixtures of bromegrass

dry conditions some self-tripping occurs.

pollinators. Nectar-collecting honeybees do
not trip many flowers, but in certain localities
they are known to collect large quantities of
pollen and thus must be effective cross-polli-
nating agents. Cross-pollination is essential
for large seed yields. Increasing the number
■ .I ■...,,. \\- ■ • lii -ii|.|iliin.-nt tin- niimhr-r .if
wild bees may be of considerable value in seed
production. The presence of other flowering
plants more attractive to bees results in fewer
visits to alfalfa and consequently less seed
production.
Harvesting.

Alfalfa Rhonld be harvested when two-thirds
to three-fourths of the pods have turned
brown. To avoid shattering, cutting should
he dune in the morning, when the pods are
damp. Immediately after or at the time of
cutting, the growth should be windrowed and
allowed to remain in place until cured. Han-
dling the plants increases shattering and subse-
quent seed loss. Seed may be threshed from
ndrow by the combine or by millers,

In many loealitie- the latter method

advantage of -avin^ more seed, since

/ can he rethreshed if necessary to get

When hauling the seed crop to a

Clean seed demands a better price limn
thresher-run seed. Fanning mills and gravity
seed cleaners carefully adjusted am! operated

are generally all that are required to make a

cleaned seed and screenings.

EE also Farmers' Bulletin 1722, Growing

MEDIUM RED CLOVER

ding. Oil e<

i are not sufficient

for g 1 growth, light top dressings early ii

In" spring of the second year may help to in
Tease seed production. The kind and qual-

more frequently during the blooming pe
>.f the second crop than the first, hence a
formly larger yield of seed. (4) Time of
testing doc- not interfere with as many o

mal cutting time. Early removal of the first
growth results in (1) rapid vigorous second
growth and more profuse bloom, (2) bloom-

reasons for low seed yields
id other wild bees are effectivt
t they are not generally preseir

The seed crop should be cut before shatter-
ing occurs from the beads that represent the
largest bulk of the crop. The bulls enclosing

cutting. Cut in the early morning, when the
heads are damp with dew, and stop cutting
during the hot part of the day. Windrow the
crop either when cutting or when the beads are
damp and tough. Combin

pick-up attaclimei

Th.

! used to thresh

tended, since refreshing the straw frequently
cmiIL. in the saving of a considerable quantity
t seed. The crop B ],uuld be bundled as little
s possible, and when hauled to a stationary
ombiiie or threshing machine it should be pro-
■<le.| against sen! loss by placing a canvas in

The Pleasures suggested for cleaning alfalfa
seed apply.

See also Farmers' Bulletin 1339, Red-
Clover Culture; and Leaflet 93. Red-Clover

-Wd Production in the Inlermountain St.t™

SWEETCLOVER

Crop to save for seed.

Since biennial swcetclover produces only
one set of crown buds the second year, grazing
or cutting the early growth reduces the top
growth and maximum seed production. Clip-
ping is not recommended in humid regions, but
if clipping is done, the plants should he cut at
a height of not less than 9 inches before the
first flower huds appear, or grazing animals
should be removed by the middle of May.
Pollination.

Cross-pollination is essential for seed pro-
duction of biennial yellow sweetclover and for
large seed yields of biennial while sweetclover.
Bees are the principal insect visitors and polli-
nators of the flowers. Since sweetclover is an
excellent source of readily available nectar,
honeybees are attracted to it and are the most
effective pollinators. The availability of hives
adjacent to blooming fields will aid in increas-
ing seed production.
Harvesting.

shatters readily, earlier cutting than is normal-

'been used to harvest the seed directly in 1
field, but seed losses arc liable to he high unl
conditions are ideal. If harvested with

!,',""'i!r t ',r',-.

S=SS^S

bine used as a stationary machine. When the
bundles are being hauled from the field to the
thresher a canvas should be spread over the
bottom of the wagon.

Cleaning.

The recommendations given for cleaning

.dl alia -ced apply.

See also Leaflet 23. Sweetclover.

ALSIKE CLOVER

Crop to .a

ve for seed.

""'' '"!" "'

•rop is used for seed, as the second
?es only an aftermath unless the
bnormally wet. For maximum

r hay. Crazing animals should be
an the fields about the middle of
in the most northerly States.

Pollination

Cross-pollination of the flowers is essential
before seed will set. Bees are the principal
pollinating insects. Of most importance are
honeybees that visit the flowers for both nectar

ll;u\i--iii.-

The stage

vesting and <

of maturity and methods of bar-
leaning alsike clover seed are sim-

dalKUl- -llnuld In- foltuwci'.

WHITE CLOVER
Fertilizing.

Under most conditions the use of phosphate
fertilizers is recommended. Applications
should he made early in spring. The quantity
needed depends on the soil and region and on
[last cropping practices. On acid soils the use
of lime is recommended — at rates ranging from
500 pounds per acre for moderately acid soils
to 1 ton on those that are strongly acid.
Conditions favoring seed production.

Bright warm weather following early cool
moist weather favors blossoming and cross-pol-
lination by bees. In the central Eastern States,
heads that develop during the latter part of
June and early in July, and farther north dur-
ing July, usually produce the most seed.
Where proper irrigation practices are followed
two seed crops can be grown and harvested at

Management.

Grazing or clipping I

moved 4 to 6 weeks before the maximum inn
her of flower heads is expected. Clipping ll
fields immediately after all the animals a

those of white

Cro-s. pollination Is necessary for seed set-
ting. Honeybees, the chief pollinating insects.

when Mourning begins.
Harvest™.

Kxannne ibii

beads as blooming pro-
gresses to determine the period of greatest seed
set. The seed is ready for harvesting 3 to 4
weeks after blooming. Cut with an ordinary
mower. Windrow the clover as it is being cut.
if it is tall enough to handle. Otherwise use a
hunchcr to permit curing in the bunch or wind-
row. To facilitate curing before threshing,
handle the material as few times as necessary.
In threshing, use a clover hullcr or a combine

LADINO CLOVER

See also Farmers' Bulletin 1910, Ladino

Oregon Station Circular 129, Ladino Clover
for Western Oregon.

FORAGE LEGUMES are war crops of im
portance in the Food for Freedom Pro
gram. All are high in protein and minera
nutrients, and adequate supplies are essentia
for needed increases in milk, meat, and woo
production. Less total labor is involved in
harvesting forage crops than other feed crops,
and this increases the advantages of growing
them on the farm. Furthermore, legumes used
as green manure add nitrogen to the soil, and
when grown in mixtures they furnish this
needed element to the associated grasses. The
use of a green-manure legume in the crop rota-
tion is of greater than normal importance for
maintaining and increasing the production of
feed, food, fiber, and vegetable-oil crops.

In addition to providing for home needs for

legumes, the United States is now supplying

J legume seed to its allies, and large quantities

- will also be needed for post-war restoration of

^ devastated lands in the far-flung battle areas of

the world.
3 Despite these urgent needs, seed production
in 1942 actually decreased for alfalfa, red
clover, sweetclover, and alsike clover, and
except for red clover the seed carry-over from
preceding years was small.

It is apparent that the acreage and yield
of legume seeds must be increased in 1943
and subsequent years. Moreover, it is im-
portant for farmers to realize that adequate
legume-forage plantings on their farms in 1944
will depend to a great extent on the seed
grown at home in 1943.

Suggestions for increasing legume seed pro-
duction are presented in this pamphlet and in
the other publications referred to in it. These

This pamphlet was written by E. A. Hollowell, senior
agronomist, Division of Forage Crops and Diseases, Bureau
of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agri-
cultural Research Administration.

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