No abstract

Introduction of forage legumes into tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) swards by sod‐seeding may greatly enhance herbage production. This study was undertaken to determine the establishment and productivity of selected legumes sod‐seeded in tall fescue and to assess the effectiveness of selected chemicals for the temporary suppression of grass foliage. This work was conducted in southern Illinois on a Stoy soil (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludalf). Five forage legume species, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), were sod‐seeded in tall fescue with the Allis‐Chalmers No‐Till planter and the Zip sod‐seeding drill. Selected alfalfa and red clover cultivars were evaluated and the effectiveness of four chemicals at three different rates for temporary suppression of the tall fescue top growth was also assessed. All forage legumes except crownvetch were established successfully by sod‐seeding. The introduced legumes enhanced the total overall dry matter yields of the tall fescue sward by up to three times under hay production management. Alfalfa was the most productive and long‐lived sod‐seeded legume. Red clover and ladino clover appeared to be well suited legumes for sod‐seeding for short‐term stands. There were no notable differences in herbage production among alfalfa cultivars evaluated, but there were differences among red clover cultivars the 3rd year. The red clover cvs. ‘Kenstar’ and ‘Florie’ persisted for three growing seasons. Glyphosate [N‐(phosphonomethyl) glycine] and paraquat (1,1'‐dimethyl‐4, 4'‐bipryidinium ion) both suppressed tall fescue topgrowth for an adequate period of time for successful legume establishment by sod‐seeding. Acceptable forage legume stands were obtained with the Allis Chalmers No‐Till planter and Zip seeder under proper soil moisture and plant cover conditions.

A study was conducted at Peabody Coal Company's Will Scarlet Mine in southern Illinois to evaluate the effectiveness of deep incorporation of dried sewage sludge and/or limestone to ameliorate acid coal refuse (gob) for establishment and survival of three forage grasses. Dried sewage sludge and/or limestone were applied at 10 rates throughout the profile of trenches opened (30 or 60 cm) by a cable trencher. Subplots of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and redtop (Agrostis alba L.) were established in September 1980. Analysis of soil chemical and physical ~hanges over time indicated that organic matter applied in the sewage sludge decreased by 35070 2 yr after the plots were established, while the proportion of sand-size water-stable aggregates increased over the same period. The proportion of large pores increased in the high rate sewage sludge plots over that of lime-treated plots. Coal refuse pH increased from 2.7 in the unamended gob to 4.4 to 5.2 with all treatments but the two lower lime rates. All treatments maintained grass stands over 4 yr with the exception of the 225 Mg sludge ha -t plus 45 Mg limestone ha -1 mixture at 60 cm. Reed canarygrass invaded adjacent plots and was more persistent than the other grasses. Mean herbage yield of the grasses exceeded 4.0 Mg ha-' on all treatments. Tissue accumulation of heavy metals was not a problem. Tissue NO~ levels were considered toxic for ruminants the first 3 yr, but decreased significantly over time. Coal refuse disposal sites can be revegetated without the use of soil cover by application of sewage sludge or limestone. Additional Index Words: waste disposal, mine revegetation, Phalaris arundinacea, Festuca arundinacea, Agrostis alba. Joost, R.E., F.J. Olsen, and J.H. Jones. 1987. Revegetation and minesoil development of coal refuse amended with sewage sludge and limestone. J. Environ. Qual. 16:65-68.

The susceptibility of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to frost heaving is a major problem in stand establishment in southern Illinois. This study was conducted at Carbondale, Illinois, to determine the effects of frost heaving on the establishment and production of alfalfa cultivars in relation to soil drainage characteristics. Four alfalfa cultivars (‘Cody’, ‘Spredor’, ‘Weevlchek’, and ‘WL‐307’) were seeded on three soil series, a deep well‐drained AIford (Typic Hapluadalf, fine‐silty mixed mesic), a moderately well‐drained Hosmer (Typic Fragiudalf, fine‐silty, mixed, mesic) with a fragipan starting at a depth of 60 to 70 cm, and a nearly level poorly‐drained Weir (Typic Ochraqualf, fine, montmorillonitic, mesic). Piezometers were installed in each soil to monitor the presence of perched water tables and their position to the soil surface. Small wooden dowels were used to assess soil movement in relation to alfalfa seedling heave. The higher amount of heaving as measured by the distance wooden dowels were raised above a reference point occurred when the night temperature was a few degrees below freezing and the day temperature was above freezing, with a perched water table near the soil surface. Poorly‐drained, Weir soil had the highest perched water table, most alfalfa seedling heave, greatest alfalfa seedling winterkill, and most dowel heave. In contrast, well‐drained Alford series had no perched water table, no appreciable seedling heave or winterkill, and least dowel heave. No significant differences in amount of frost heaving of seedlings were noted amonga alfalfa cultivars on any drainage site. Highest dry matter yields were obtained on the well‐drained Alford site; significant yield reductions occurred as soil drainage class became more poorly drained. Alfalfa stands were successfully established on the well‐drained Alford series and the moderately well‐drained Hosmer series. Soil drainage characteristics did influence alfalfa establishment and production in the climatic transitional zone of the central U. S. Poorly‐drained soils should not be considered for alfalfa production.