(73) Frost-Seeding Legumes for Grassland Bird Habitat Enhancement

Ilana Goldowitz, Meaghan Black, and Paul Curtis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Session: Poster Session

Frost-seeding is a low-input technique for establishing legumes in fields. Time and equipment investments are minimized compared to more commonly used agricultural field preparation and seeding techniques. The addition of legumes provides many benefits including forage for livestock and wildlife, enhanced insect populations, and improved soil nutrients. 

We evaluated 5 treatments for aiding the establishment of legumes in a grassland using frost-seeding: (1) Frost-seed only, (2) Herbicide, (3) Mow, (4) Disk, and (5) Herbicide and Disk. Treatments were arranged in a 5x5 Latin Square design in a 1-hectare old-field grassland near Van Etten, NY. Two legume species, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil, were frost-seeded over the entire field. Results were monitored for 2 growing seasons.

Frost-seeding of both legume species dramatically increased their occurrence compared to non-seeded areas of the field. The herbicide and disk treatment significantly improved both trefoil and clover frequency, and percent cover when compared to frost-seeded only control plots. The herbicide only application was found to significantly improve trefoil frequency of occurrence and percent cover compared to the frost-seeded control. Impact on insect populations was assessed in 2007 field season. 

There is much land in the northeastern United States where frost seeding could be a viable means by which to transform old fields into valuable pastures or wildlife habitat.

Gary Goff
Dept. Natural Resources
104 Fernow Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Phone: 607-255-2824
Fax: 607-255-2815
grg3@cornell.edu