We have a 100 ac wheat field we are thinking about returning back to pasture. The proposed planting plan is 1.2# of bluestem and 2# of switch grass per acre. My question is if I could band the field with some additional varieties to benefit the quail what would it be? Ranch is located in Knox Co.

Thanks for the input.

Gerick

Throw in a few wild plum bushes 0n the edges.

Check with ceasar kleberg foundation. They have consultants who will help you develop the right habitat. My first thought. You need more variety of forbs.
The more variety you have the more likely you always have something the the field that provides food going to seed.

Also, loafing cover would help. A long meager of brush half-cut will provide loafing cover and safety. (100 acres w/o much cover is a risky proposition for birds. )

Quail are forb eater(seeds), insects - grass seeds second or third, grass for nesting. Brush for escape cover. I put a list of species plant to choice from. A mix of forbes and grass should work, a little heavier on the forb side. Planting is good for the short term, but think years done the road. All ground needs a little maintenance , so a prescribed fire to set the conditions or maintain down the road. I would avoid piling brush, the first couple of years are good and can be productive. but as time goes I am seeing brush piles turn it predator housing. We all get side track down the road and it seems pile get way down on the list as the years pass. There is a good resource on the rolling plains from Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation I believe in Roby, Texas or contact the TPWD biologists, you are already paying them, might put them to work for you.


Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation
https://www.quailresearch.org/resources

there is seed company in Muleshoe and few other across the state

Mix of seed plants
Redroot amaranth Carelessweed, pigweed Amaranthus retroflexus
Fragrant sumac Skunkbush, threeleaf sumac Rhus aromatica
Skunkbush sumac Skunkbush, sumac, squawbush Rhus trilobata
Erect dayflower Widow's tear Commelina erecta
Western ragweed Ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
Giant ragweed Bloodweed,horseweed Ambrosia trifida
Common sunflower Sunflower Helianthus annuus
Ragweed sumpweed Marsh elder Iva xanthifolia
Snakeweed Broomweed Amphiachyris dracunculoides
Common persimmon Persimmon Diospyros virginiana
Tropic croton Doveweed, croton Croton glandulosus
Texas croton Doveweed, goatweed, croton Croton texensis
Snow-on-the mountain --- Euphorbia marginata
Havard Oak Shin oak, shinnery oak Quercus havardi
Fringeleaf paspalum Paspalum Paspalum ciliatifolium
Showy partridgepea Partridgepea, Senna Chamaecrista fasciculata
Illinois bundleflower --- Desmanthus illinoensis
Western indigo --- Indigofera leptosepala
Common mesquite Mesquite Prosopis juliflora
Black locust --- Robina pseudo-acacia
Small wildbean Trailing wildbean Strophostyles pauciflorus
Steven's sandlily --- Mentzelia stricta
Bluestem pricklepoppy Wild poppy Argemone intermedia
Chickasaw plum Wild plum Prunus angustifolia
Western soapberry Wild chinaberry Sapindus drummondi
Woollybucketbumelia Chittam Bumelia lanuginosa
Netleaf hackberry Hackberry Celtis reticulata
Desert willow Desert willow Chilopsis linearis

Thanks for the input!

So the main reason for putting the field in grass is to graze. My thought process was to ring the field with something that would benefit wildlife. Since the cows would probably never let the wildlife mix produce seed heads this probably wouldn't be a very good idea.