Seeding Rate

A seeding rate is the weight or volume of seed applied to a unit of land, e.g. 15kg/ha or 1 bushel/acre. In forages, the bulk seeding rate should be based on a desired seeding density. Seeding density refers to the number of seeds placed in a meter of row or placed in the seed bed. Seeding densities listed in the tables below are based on pure live seed (PLS) and provide adequate seed to establish a forage stand under good seeding condtions.

Using the Table

The table below provides the PLS seeding density for single forage species. The seeding densities are listed as either PLS per meter of row or square meter. Seeding densities should be adjusted for different soil zones. Seeding densities for the brown or dark brown soil zones should be selected from the lower end of the PLS ranges. In the black, grey -wooded or irrigated soil zones use seeding densities from the upper end of the listed ranges. For example, with meadow bromegrass a seeding density of 40 PLS /meter of row would be appropriate for the dark brown soil zone while 70 PLS/meter would be suitable for the black soil zone.

A PLS seeding rate (kg/ha) for a pure seeding of each species in 15, 23 and 30 cm rows is provided in the table below. This seeding rate is based the average seeding density for each species listed in the table below. For example, the average per seeding density used for Meadow brome is 55 PLS/meter, while for alfalfa it is 90 PLS /meter of row.

Seeding Density For Pure Stands

  Seeding Density  
Grass Species PLS/Meter of Row PLS/m2 1000 kernal weight (grams) Seeds/kg (average) Approx. # of seeds at 1kg/ha Seeding rate PLS kg/ha* row spacing in cm
m2 ft2 15 23 30
Bromgrass
 Meadow 40-70 175-350 5.22 191 527 19 2 19 13 10
 Smooth 40-70 175-350 3.17 314 997 31 3 12 8 6
Foxtail
 Creeping 150-200 600-900 0.58 1 732 975 173 16 7 4 3
 Meadow 130-150 600-950 1.11 897 017 90 8 10 7 5
Fescue
 Creeping Red 90-120 400-550 1.20 826 447 83 8 8 7 4
 Meadow 70-100 300-450 1.97 507 063 51 5 11 7 6
 Tall 70-100 300-450 2.20 453 535 45 4 12 8 6
Kentucky Blue Grass 250-300 950-1300 0.20 4 799 464 480 44 4 3 2
Orchard Grass 180-200 700-900 1.06 941 815 94 9 13 9 7
Reed Canarygrass 180-200 700-800 0.84 1 185 911 118 11 10 7 5
Rye Grass
 Annual - Italian 100-140 400-600 2.09 478 703 48 4 16 11 8
 Perennial 100-140 400-600 1.89 529 991 53 5 15 10 7
Timothy 150-220 650-1000 0.39 2 564 417 256 24 5 3 2
Wheatgrass
 Crested (diploid) 30-60 130-260 1.46 686 079 69 6 4 3 2
 Crested (tetraploid) 30-60 130-260 5.15 427 961 43 4 7 5 4
 Intermediate 30-60 130-260 5.66 176 546 18 2 17 11 9
 Northern 30-60 130-260 3.12 319 670 32 3 9 6 5
 Pubescent 40-60 175-260 5.66 176 546 18 2 17 11 9
 Slender 30-60 130-260 3.35 297 624 30 3 10 7 5
 Streambank 30-60 130-260 2.98 335 103 34 3 9 5 6
 Tall 40-60 175-260 6.02 166 052 17 2 12 8 6
 Western 30-60 130-260 3.94 253 532 25 2 12 8 6
Wild Rye
 Altai 30-50 250-325 7.53 132 802 13 1 23 15 11
 Dalhurian 40-60 175-250 5.15 194 007 19 2 19 13 10
 Russian 40-50 175-250 2.79 358 472 36 3 8 6 4
Hybrid Grass
 Hybrid Brome 40-70 175-350 4.99 200 261 20 2 18 12 9
 Hybrid Wheatgrass 30-60 130-260 3.84 260 146 26 2 12 8 6

  Seeding Density  
Legume Species PLS/meter of Row PLS/m2 1000 kernal weight (grams) Seeds/kg (average) Approx. # of seeds at 1kg/ha Seeding rate PLS kg/ha* row spacing in cm
m2 ft2 15 23 30
Alfalfa 40-120 175-550 2.00 500 008 50 5 11 7 5
Birdsfoot Trefoil 100-150 450-650 1.23 815 358 82 8 10 7 5
Cicer Milkvetch 70-90 300-400 3.70 270 199 27 3 19 13 9
Clover
 Aliske 160 750 0.67 1 500 025 150 14 7 5 4
 Red 110-130 450-550 1.67 600 010 60 6 13 9 7
 Sweet 80-120 350-550 1.75 570 027 57 6 12 8 6
 White 160 750 0.58 1 710 787 171 16 6 4 3
 Kura 70-80 400-450 1.80 552 258 55 5 9 6 5
Sainfoin 40-60 175-250 19.96 50 089 5 0.5 65 43 33
* PLS kg/ha: Canadian Seed Act standards are used for germination and purity in developing PLS seeding rates. All PLS seeding rates are based on bare seed.

Adjusting PLS seeding Density

Seed Per Kg:
The number of seeds /kg can vary between forage species cultivars. If available, use the seeds/kg for individual cultivars, otherwise use the seeds/kg rating in the table above.

Seedbed Conditions:
Seed placement, germination and seedling establishment are all impacted by seedbed conditions. Seeding rates should be increased when seeding into poorly prepared seedbeds or where conditions such as salinity or soil type (clay) may limit seedling survival.

1000 kernel weight:
Forage species with small seeds, 0.20 to 1.0 gm/1000 kernels, often require higher seeding rates to improve seed metering and to compensate for seed that my be buried to deep for proper emergence

Forage species with large seeds, 4.0 to 22.0 gm/1000 kernels, may require higher seeding rates to meet the seeding densities listed in the table above.

Seeding Equipment :
The seeding density should be increased by 30% to 150% for broadcast seeding systems or drills without depth control. A higher seeding density is often required to compensate for poor seed placement with these seeding systems.

Moisture Availability:
The seeding density can be increased in irrigated or high rainfall areas or where no companion crop is being used. Under these conditions, a higher seeding density will produce a more competitive forage crop during the establishment year.