Both bird's-foot trefoil and Illinois bundleflower are compatible legumes for a big bluestem and indiangrass pasture mixture. Illinois bundleflower is a native species of tall grass prairies. It will be grazed readily by cattle and will probably not be very abundant in the pasture. Bird's-foot trefoil can sometimes be slow to establish but has good persistence and may increase over time. Some other introduced legume possibilities that would add diversity to the pasture mix include alfalfa or red clover. Alfalfa is probably the easiest to establish. If it is included at a very low seeding rate (about ½ lb per acre), risk of bloat will be low.
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What grazing legumes would be beneficial to seed with a new big bluestem/indiangrass pasture? Are bird's-foot trefoil or Illinois bundleflower options?
Last Updated: October 25, 2010
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