Planting grass and legume seeds too deeply is the major reason for stand failures. Selecting the grasses and legumes Pasture grasses and legumes must be matched with the growing conditions of the pasture site. Alfalfa, for instance requires well drained soils, while red clover can tolerate moderately to poorly drained soils. White clover can tolerate poorly drained soils but is seldom seeded because it will appear naturally in the pasture under controlled grazing. Alfalfa and red clover can be very productive on loams and sands.
Sandy sites are often too droughty for clovers but can be made into good alfalfa hay fields.
Birdsfoot trefoil is slower to establish and does best if seeded with a less aggressive grass such as timothy or Kentucky bluegrass. Specific site requirements should considered when selecting improved grasses and legumes. It requires well drained, fertile sites and a neutral soil Ph of about 6.7 to 7.0 It also requires high levels of phosphorus and potash. Controlled grazing schedules should allow 25 to 35 days between grazing periods, as well as a fall rest period to promote winter survival. Bloat is always a hazard when grazing ruminants on alfalfa, so producers should take care to seed at least 50 per cent grasses in the mixture, or feed the bloat preventive poloxalene.