Wildlife Mississippi’s Wildlife Habitat Seed Program
Technical Specifications

CORN
Description: A warm-season annual; excellent wildlife food.

Soil adaptation: Performs best on well-drained soils. Poorly drained sites will not allow timely planting and will reduce yields and increase competition from weeds. Moderately, well-drained sites can be chosen if flooding is desired.

Seedbed preparation: Well-prepared seedbed or no-till into a legume, small grain or old residue. Plant in 30” to 40” rows.

Planting: March 15 – April 25. Plant 16,000 to 18,000 seeds per acre, which is equivalent to 12-15 lbs. per acre.

Fertility requirements: Use soil test recommendations, or use 300 - 400 lbs. per acre of 13-13-13.

pH requirement: 6.0 to 6.5. Apply agricultural lime according to soil test recommendation.

GRAIN SORGHUM
Description: Grain sorghum is an annual. It is a choice food of quail, doves, ducks, geese and turkey.

Soil adaptation: Soils best adapted for grain sorghum are deep and well-drained, but yields can be obtained on heavy, clay-to-clay loams, shallow soils and soils not well-drained.

Seedbed preparation: A clean, firm seedbed is necessary.

Planting: April 15 – May 15. Rates vary from 8 to 10 lbs. per acre assuming the seed has an 80% germination rate and a 75% emergence rate. Cover seed about 1” deep. Plant in rows of 36” to 40” spacing for best results.

Fertility requirement: Use soil test recommendations, or use nitrogen rates of 34 to 200 lbs. per acre depending on desired yields. Potassium requirements range from 30 to 50 lbs. per acre and potash from 60 to 100 lbs. per acre.

pH requirement: 5.5 to 6.5. Apply agricultural lime according to soil test recommendation.

SOYBEAN
Description: A common, annual, summer legume. The vegetative parts and seeds are excellent food choices for deer and other wildlife.

Soil adaptation: Widely adapted to drained, medium textured soils and heavier textured soils.

Seedbed preparation: Prepare a clean, firm seedbed.

Fertility requirements: A soil test is recommended or apply 200 lbs. per acre of 0-20-20.

Planting: May 1 – June 1. Seeding rates will depend upon variety planted. The planting rate will be between 30 to 60 lbs. per acre. Broadcast or plant with a grain drill.

pH requirements: 6.0 – 7.0. If soil pH is below 6.0, lime with at least 1 ton of agricultural lime per acre.

SUNFLOWER
Description: Sunflowers are an excellent source of food for doves.

Soil Adaptation: A well-drained, productive soil is best; however, it is adapted to a wide range of soils.

Seedbed preparation: Prepare a seedbed as for cotton or corn.

Planting: April 15 – June 15. 10 to 15 lbs. per acre in 36” to 42” rows using a corn planter with 8” spacing within the row. Cover seed about 1” deep.

Fertility requirements: Apply 300 lbs. per acre of 13-13-13 at time of planting.

pH requirement: Sunflower is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions.

RICE
Description: Rice is a perennial, and is an excellent food for waterfowl.

Soil adaptation: Best suited to poorly-drained, heavy (clay) soils which will hold water. Can vary from sandy loam to clay, but coarse-textured soils should have a hard pan so that water does not leach.

Seedbed preparation: Variable; may be drilled in well-prepared seedbed or no-till soils, or may be drilled or broadcast in lightly disked (< 2”) soils. May also be aerial seeded to standing water on worked soils where precise water level control is possible.

Planting: Optimum, April 1 - May 15 (60 degree soil temperature). Plant April 15 for late August maturity, June 15 for late September maturity. Drill at 50 lbs. per acre, 7”-10” row spacing, approx. 1” deep. Broadcast at 65 lbs. per acre, incorporate no more than 1 ¼” deep.

Fertility requirements: Apply 150 lbs. of actual Nitrogen (N) or 325 lbs. of Urea per acre pre-flood. Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) should be applied according to soil test recommendations.

pH requirement: 5.0 to 8.0. Unless the soil pH levels are below 5.5, no lime is recommended on any soils to be planted to rice.

WINTER WHEAT
Description: Winter wheat is a cool-season annual grown throughout Mississippi. In addition to using winter wheat for forage and grain production, it is a choice food for many species of wildlife such as quail, deer, dove and turkey.

Soil adaptation: Winter wheat is adapted to most soil types throughout the state. Avoid wet soils.

Seedbed preparation: Prepare a clean, firm seedbed.

Planting: September 1 – November 1. Plant 80 lbs. per acre (1.5 bushels) when seedbeds are conventionally prepared. Increase rates to 100 lbs. per acre where wheat is "roughed in".

Fertility requirements: Use soil test results for determination or 60 lbs. per acre of nitrogen, 80 lbs. per acre of potassium and 80 lbs. per acre of potash. An additional amount should be added in February or March. Amount will depend on use.

pH requirement: 6.0 to 6.5. Apply agricultural lime according to soil test recommendation.

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