Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


 SEEDBED PREPARATION AND PLANTING TECHNIQUE
 Two fundamental considerations in the preparation of a seed-
bed are: (1) Destruction of weeds and other plants which hinder
growth of seedlings, and (2) rolling of seedbeds for packing to
prevent seed from being planted too deeply. On packed soils
the surface moisture supply is improved also due to the upward
movement of water (from subsoil to surface) by capillarity.
This improved surface moisture supply encourages rapid seed
germination and furnishes a favorable root environment for
the small seedlings, thus improving stands of grasses and



















 FIG. 13.-LEGUMES STIMULATE GRASS GROWTH.
 Foreground was treated with 1 ton of ground limestone and 400 pounds
 of 0-14-10 fertilizer per acre. Left, seeded to Dallis grass alone; right,
 to Dallis and a mixture of common and Kobe lespedeza.

 legumes. Soil pulverizers which cover the seed and pack the
 soil are desirable for seeding grasses and legumes (Fig. 14).
 Seed of the permanent pasture grasses commonly used in
 Florida often germinate slowly, thus better stands generally
 result when the seeds are lightly covered. Surface-broadcast
 seeds of legumes germinate and become established quickly if
 planted on moist soils during rainy periods.
 Grass and clover seed may be covered approximately 6 to 12
 times their diameter on sandy soils and 3 to 6 times their diam-
 eter on heavier textured soils. Bahia or Dallis grasses may