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to invasion by broomsedge.
Another characteristic of this weedy grass is its ability to grow on soils which are relatively low in phosphorus and potash and which also may have a soil pH below 5.5. It is under these condition of low fertility, shallow soils and either undergrazing or overgrazing that broomsedge is most prevalent. Applying lime to raise the soil pH to at least 6.0 and applying phosphate and potash as needed are the first steps to take in attempting to reduce broomsedge populations.
If the pasture sod is very thin, it may be necessary to renovate and reseed in order to improve the sod. The combination of fertilizing, liming, and reseeding as needed will usually result in a strong, vigorous sod which will crowd out the broomsedge plants, especially if the pasture is grazed heavily enough or mowed to keep the plants short and rapidly growing.
Overgrazing of pastures to the extent that the desirable plants are weakened also gives broomsedge an opportunity to become established. This may seem to conflict with the statements made earlier on the need to graze closely so that the broomsedge will be grazed. However, a common situation is for pastures to be undergrazed in the spring during the flush growth and then overgrazed during the summer and early fall. This combination allows the broomsedge to go ungrazed in the spring so that it becomes tall and woody. Then when heavy grazing occurs in the summer, the desirable plants are overgrazed and weakened while the tall broomsedge is of such low quality that it is not eaten and continues to grow.
While broomsedge is generally a much more serious problem in pasture, it can also invade fields which are being used for hay. Here again a stand weakened by poor soil fertility is the most susceptable to invasion by broomsedge. Usually, even though broomsedge does invade such hay fields a good fertilization program and continued mowing for hay will usually reduce the population of this weedy grass.
In some areas burning is a common method for cleaning off the^ broomsedge in early Spring. This will effectively remove the brown, dead top growth of the weed but will also injure and greatly weaken the desirable plants present in the sod. For this reason, this is not a recommended practice.
In summary, the best way to protect a pasture or hayfield from invasion by broomsedge is to maintain a thick, productive sod which will not enable the weed to become established. This is done by a sound liming and fertilization program, coupled with proper grazing management to utilize the pasture in the Spring and prevent overgrazing during the summer and early fall.D
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