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Progress Report Series No. 36 Aug4ust 1947
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STA'TION
of The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Aa.
.? . . * * M. J. Funchess, Director
WHITE DUTCH CLOVER-DALLIS GRASS PASTURE .for the
GULF COAST AREA of 
ALABAMA'
OTTO BROWN, Superintendent
HAROLD F. YATES, Assistant Superintendent
Good pastures are the foundation of a
sound livestock program. They are necessary
for the most economical production of good
quality livestock or livestock products.
Until about 1940 practically all pastures
in the Gulf Coast area of Alabama consisted
of native grasses on cut-over lands. Such
grasses are poor .in feed value. The reason
for this is that all soils in the region
are naturally low in minerals, which are
necessary for the growthof healthy animals.
By 1940 results of experiments conducted
at the GulfCoast Substation had shown that
as good pastures could be grown 
in this
area as elsewhere. These results have in-
fluenced the planting of thousands of acres
of white Dutch clover-Dallis grass pastures
by farmers in the Gulf Coast area, particu-
larly dairymen. Milk, beef, and pork are
being economically produced from these im-
proved pastures.
While the cost of establishing pastures
in this region may be higher than in some
other parts of the State, the longer graz-
ing and the additional amount of grazing
will usually more than offset the added
cost.
Although it is possible to have both
winter and summer grazing in this region,
experiments thus far have not indicated
that year around grazing on the same land
is successful.
Pasture Plants
All permanent pasture combinations should
include both a legume and a grass. The
legume is rich in protein apd it supplies
nitrogen to the 
soil, which stimulates 
',the
growth of more and better grass. The most
profitable combination developed thus far
at the Gulf Coast Substation consists of
white Dutch, clover and Dallis grass. In the
Gulf Coast area of Alabama this combination
furnishes succulent grazing from about the
first of March to about the first of Novem-
ber..During an average year it should
support two cows per acre for about 4months
when moisture is plentiful and one cow per
acre during the other 4 months. During the
latter 4 months, such temporary crops as
sudan grass, millet, and kudzumay be. used
to supplement the permanent pasture.
found to benecessary. Therefore it is
very important that each of these practices
be followed very carefully in order to
insure success in so far as is possible.
Soil. For white Dutch clover and Dallis
grass, a heavy soil is necessary for best
results. A light soil may result insomewhat
earlier grazing in spring, but growth will
not besatisfactory during hot, dry seasons.
Low land, such as gallberry flats where
water stands only .a few hurs following
heavy rainfalls, or heavy crop land under-
laid by a clay subsoil is desirable.
Preparation. Amount and length of graz-
ing from pastures as a rule vary in pro-
portion to the care used in preparing the
land before planting. 
Thorough seedbed 
pre-
paration is one of the musts. for establish-
ing a good pasture. On new land it is
desirable but not absolutely necessary to
break and grow another crop a year before
planting to pasture. In case the land is
not suitable for other crops, it is broken
several months in advance of planting, so
that the turf can be ,-well pulverized just
before planting. Deep breaking is especially
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important Where carpet grass is present. If
this grass is left near the surface, it will
come back after a year or so and will tend
to choke the clover and desirable grasses.
Fertilizers. Any one of the following
fertilizer treatments is satisfactory (per
acre rates):
(1) 1 to 2 tons of lime and 700 to
800 pounds of 0-14-10;
(2) 1 to 2 tons of lime, 600 pounds
superphosphate and 150 pounds of
muriate of potash; or
(3) 1 to 2 tons of lime, 1,000 pounds
of basic slag and 150 pounds of
muriate of potash.
On lands in a very low state of fertility,
the rates should be somewhat increased.
If the foregoing fertilizer ingredients
are not available, 4-10-7 may be 
used with
lime. However, the rate should be increased
to 1,.000 pounds per acre, in order to supply
about' the same amounts of phosphorus and
potash that are contained in 700 pounds 
of
0'14-10.
The lime may be applied before breaking
even though it may be a year before 
plant-
ing. A lime spreader is pulled more easily
on unbroken land.
The fertilizer is applied 
and disked
into the soil 2 or 3 weeks before planting.
A drag is attached behind the disk 
to leave
the surface as smooth as possible. Following
a rain around October 1, when 
soil moisture
is right, the area is then disked and
dragged as shallow as possible to freshen
the surface, on which the Dallis grass 
and
clover seed is broadcast and rolled. 
The
clover seed must be well inoculated.
Inoculation. Inoculant is made up of
bacteria, or "germs," which live on clover
roots and take nitrogen from the air. 
With-
out these germs the-clover must obtain its
nitrogen from the soil; unless the soil
contains a lot of nitrogen, the clover
seeds will germinate and the plants will
not have normal color or make satisfactory
growth.
Inoculation may be done in several ways.
It may be done by the use of soil from 
a
field where the same kind of legume 
has
been making good growth. This method, how-
ever, is not always successful. The most
common material now in use is commercial
inoculation, which is sold at most seed
stores. Be sure to examine the date on
package to make certain that material is
still fresh and that it is for white clover
and not some other legume. Fxperiments have
have shown that it pays to use 2 or 3 times
as much of the inoculating material as is
recommended by the manufacturer.
One of the most satisfactory ways to
inoculate seed is to place them in a tub or
bucket and to sprinkle with water, to which
enough syrup has been added to make it
sticky. Stir until all seed are moistened
with this solution. Break up all lumps in
the inoculant and sprinkle over the seed.
Then stir thoroughly until all seed are
well coated. If too much liquid has been
used and the seed are too 
sticky to plant,
stir in enough dry dirt, 
cottonseed meal,
or similar material to take up the excess
moisture. Following inoculation the seed
must be kept in the shade until planted;
sunlight will kill the inoculation.
Planting. The pasture is seeded about
October]. Plantings are sometimes success-
ful when made as late as December, but the
earlier planting means earlier spring graz-
ing. Also weather conditions as a rule are
more favorable for early plantings.
Weather charts for this area show that
normally there is plenty of rainfall at the
autumn equinox, or the last week in Septem-
ber. Thus, planting should be done just
after these rains. Otherwise, moisture for
planting may not be sufficient for a month
or more.
The per acre seeding rate found most
satisfactory is:
6 pounds of white Dutch clover seed
(Louisiana strain), and
10 to 15 pounds of Dallis grass seed
(75 per cent germination or better).
If Dallis grass seed runs less than 75 to
80 per cent germination, the rate of seed-
ing per acre should be increased accordingly.
Dallis grass seed and clover seed are
(2)
broadcast in two separate operations, be-
cause they do not distribute well if mixed.
Dallis grass seed are sown first because
they do not require inoculation and are not
affected by sunlight. Usually Dallis grass
seed are broadcast by hand. The clover seed
may be sown by a cyclone seeder. A more
uniform stand will be obtained if half of
the seed is sown in one direction and the
other half cross-seeded. The roller shculd
follow as closely as possible behind the
clover seeding, in order to press the in-
oculated seed into the soil and protect
them from sunlight.
A cultipacker is the most satisfactory
implement for covering the seed. The land
should not be rolled before planting. The
seed are planted directly 
on a seedbed,
which has just been 'lightly disked and
and smoothed. It is a good practice to roll
and cross-roll following planting.
If a cultipacker is not available, a
satisfactory job may sometimes be done with
a log, other heavy roller, or a brush drag.
A spiked-tooth harrow is not desirable
because it covers some of the seed too
deep. Disking following sowing is almost
certain to put the seed too deep, which
will result in a poor stand.
Clover seed will germinate soon after
planting if the soil contains enough mois-
ture. Dallis grass seed maygerminate either
in the fall or the following spring; it
will afford little grazing until mid-summer.
Dallis grass plants live over winter, and
after the first year will give some grazing
soon after the last frost in the spring.
Even with continuous grazing of two cows
per acre, both clover and Dallis grass may
be expected to make plenty of seed. Also
they will stand dry weather better if kept
grazed fairly close.
Ma i ntenance
For best results the pasture is mowed
often enough to control weeds and to im-
prove the quality of grazing. This usually
requires two to four mowings per year. It
is better tomow fairly high the first time,
in order that the second mowing may be set
below where weeds sprout.
Each fall, about November 1, 500 pounds
of 0-14-10 or its equivalent per acre are
applied. No disking or other practice is
necessary.
Where no carpet grass is present, the
pasture should result in satisfactory graz-
ing for 5 or 6 years. If carpet grass is
present, the clover will be choked within 3
or 4 years. The only way now known to
rejuvenate a pasture where such a condition
exists isto break deep enough to turn under
all sod. This is done around the first of
September. Following breaking, the area is
thoroughly disked. About September 15, 500
pounds of 0-14-10 or its equivalent per
acre are applied and disked into the smootl
soil. The Dallis grass stand, which will
follow this breaking and disking, is ordi-
narily satisfactory. Sometimes a good stand
of clover willcome without additional seed-
ing. However, it is safer to plant about 3
pounds of white Dutch clover seed and roll
it after disking in the fertilizer, just as
is done at the original planting. No inocu-
lation is necessary if there was a fair
stand of clover on this land the year
before.
(3)