Food plot planting .... different?

[fishboy1]

Got to thinking.
Most food plotters follow standard farm practices for the crops they plant. Row spacing etc.....

I know that a lot of those standards were developed to maximize HARVEST AND $ RETURNS using modern equipment.

Since food plotters are just trying to grow stuff for the deer to munch, what about planting much more densely?

Would likely help with choking out weeds. Since you are growing deer food and not trying to maximize harvest efficiency with modern equipment, row spacing shouldn't be as important provided the plants get what they need.

We have had better results with our veggie garden when planting at 2x the recommended density. We don't quite get 2x the yield, BUT we have less weed competition and seed is cheap compared to the time/money/work involved in weeding/spraying.

Any thoughts or studies to confirm or deny this theory?

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

The more densely you plant most summer time plots the more rain you need, especially corn.

 

[fishboy1]

corn is one of the most "needy" crops so that makes sense.

What about soybeans or wheat ?

Would the increased foliage prevent too much rain from getting to the ground/roots?

basically creating an umbrella and letting the rain evaporate instead of being used by the plant?

I know row spacing is partly determined by mechanized harvesting/spraying equipment and thought that rows could be tightened up since you wouldn't be driving equipment through it.

 

[Football Hunter]

My clover is thick as dog hair,dont know how to get it much thicker

 

[BSK]

The recommended seed rates are based on maximizing mature plant size and production. If you have enough food plot acreage that plants will fully mature, I would go with the recommended seeding rate.

However, for most deer managers, food plots get hit fairly hard, and most plants are at least partially consumed by deer. In that situation, I feel comfortable over-seeding by around 50%.

In limited-acreage fall plots, that are going to get hammered by the end of deer season, I will even double the seeding rate, as few (if any) plants will be allowed to mature before they are consumed.

 

[Trapper John]

I overseed. A lot. Partly because I simply broadcast seed on prepared ground and let the rain be my cultipacker and partly because I don't have much food plot acreage to work with and the deer know where the food is.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I use double alot.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

I tend to use more seed than it calls for but it also depends on the plot and even areas within the plot.

 

[landman]

You will find that the reason the seeding rates are they is at a certain point, you start to waste seed, fertilizer, chemicals.

But you are right in some ways, seeding rates are going way up,
row spacing is being played with,(planted 2 rows 7" apart then skipping 20") mainly with corn you are seeing this. But sowing 15-20lbs per acre of clover verses 7-10lbs is a waste of money,
or planting 120lbs of soybeans verses 60lbs. You could actually choke out the beans or wheat

 

[Boone 58]

Also i dont buy hybrid seed, i ask for "feed" seed cause why do you need expensive seed when you are in fact NOT going to harvest the wheat or the oats seed.......good point.

 

[DBLAARCHERY]

I will have to get some pics but in our holler I planted about an acre of a mixture with rape and beans. I spread mine just like seed. It has kept the weeds down and they are growing great