Ecology and management of white-tailed deer in - Florida Fish and ...

Land preparation
Proper seedbed preparation is vital for a successful food plot. The seedbed should
be clean-tilled, well-pulverized, level, and firm. Disking helps to pulverize seedbeds,
improving soil to seed contact and seed germination. A cultipacker or some other roller can
be used to firm a seedbed. If the food plot is planted on a logging road or old logging
ramp, the soil may be too compacted and should be broken up.
Soil test, fertilization, and liming
Soil samples should be collected at least two and
preferably six months in advance of planting to allow enough
time for testing and following recommendations.
Recommendations on lime are typically given as tons per acre
and fertilizers as pounds per acre. Therefore it is important that
you know accurately the size of the plot (measure, don’t guess!)
to be able to follow the recommendation closely. Broadcast lime
well in advance of planting (two to six months) to allow time for
it to affect the soil chemistry. Proper pH of the soil, achieved
with the correct amount of lime, is essential for optimum plant
growth and to maximize the quality of nutrition available.
Fertilizer can be added at planting.
Plant selection
Choose plants that are well
adapted to the site (soil type,
climate, drainage and amount of
shading), easy to establish,
affordable, and that provide
abundant forage at the appropriate
time of year (cool-season vs. warmseason
forage). For example,
cowpeas and soybean are valuable
warm-season forages, while clovers
and wheat are valuable during the
cool season (Tables 2a and 2b).
Legume seeds require
inoculation with a proper mixture of
live Rhizobium bacteria before
planting. Some commercial
A seed drill is used to plant
seeds in a prepared seedbed.
Plants for Florida
Before spending large sums of money on commercial
seed mixes that promise to “grow” monster bucks,
remember that Florida’s soils are unique. Many of
the ready mix seeds will not grow well in Florida
soils. Opt for native plants or plants that have been
tested in Florida. Your county extension agent can
assist you in plant selection. In addition, University
of Florida IFAS extension provides lists of
recommended plants and mixtures.
Visit the IFAS website at:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Planting a blend of species,
such as this rye, oat, wheat,
rape, and arrowleaf clover
mixture can extend the
foraging period.
mixtures of legumes already have bacteria added, if not, bags of inoculant specific to the
seed type can be purchased from local farm supply stores.
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