RESPONSE OF THREE WARM-SEASON GRASSES TO VARYING FERTILITY LEVELS ON FIVE SOILS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. TAYLOR ◽  
D. W. ALLINSON
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
P Fertilization ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Animal production in New England has been limited by inadequate forage during mid- to late summer when cool-season grasses are in summer dormancy. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are warm-season grasses that may be a perennial source of summer forage. Since production of these warm-season grasses would be limited to the less fertile soils of the region, a greenhouse study was conducted to examine the growth and quality of these species in five acid, infertile soils as well as fertilizer-amended soils. The soils were fertilized with limestone (L), limestone plus nitrogen (LN), limestone, nitrogen plus phosphorus (LNP), and limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus plus potassium (LNPK). Limestone was applied to adjust soils to a pH of 6.5. Fertilizer was applied at rates of 45, 117 and 111 kg/ha of N, P and K, respectively. First harvest yields were greatest for switchgrass and big bluestem, but indiangrass produced significantly greater yields than either of the other grasses in the second harvest. In both harvests, the yields of all grasses were greatest under the LNP and LNPK fertility regimes. Nitrogen, without P, did not significantly increase yields above the control treatment in the first harvest. Yield responses to P fertilization varied with soils. Although P appeared to be the limiting factor insofar as growth was concerned, the yield response from P fertilization would probably be limited without N fertilization. Indiangrass was significantly higher in crude protein and K concentration and significantly lower in Ca concentration than big bluestem and switchgrass. Phosphorus concentrations were below the recommended levels for ruminant nutrition.

Herbicides for Postemergence Control of Annual Grass Weeds in Seedling Forage Grasses

Weed Science ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Peters ◽  
Russell S. Moomaw ◽  
Alex R. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Warm Season ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Forage Grasses ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Green Foxtail ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Large Crabgrass ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

The control of three summer annual grass weeds with herbicides during establishment of forage grasses was studied near Concord and Mead, NE, in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Three cool-season forage grasses, intermediate wheatgrass, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass, and two warm-season grasses, big bluestem and switchgrass, were included. The control of three major summer annual grasses, green foxtail, barnyardgrass, and large crabgrass, was excellent with fenoxaprop at 0.22 kg ai/ha. Slight to moderate injury to cool-season forage grasses and severe injury to warm-season grasses were evident. Sethoxydim at 0.22 kg ai/ha and haloxyfop at 0.11 kg ai/ha controlled green foxtail and large crabgrass, but not barnyardgrass. Sulfometuron-treated big bluestem and switchgrass plots had the best forage stand frequencies and yields and, at the rate used, sulfometuron satisfactorily controlled green foxtail but only marginally controlled barnyardgrass and large crabgrass.

Late summer forage yield, nutritive value, compatibility of warm- and cool-season grasses seeded with legumes in western Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Biligetu ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. Muri ◽  
M. P. Schellenberg
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Biligetu, B., Jefferson, P. G., Muri, R. and Schellenberg, M. P. 2014. Late summer forage yield, nutritive value, compatibility of warm-and cool-season grasses seeded with legumes in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1139–1148. In late summer and fall, quality and quantity of forage are important for weight gain by grazing animals in western Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage nutritive value, dry matter (DM) yield, and compatibility of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.), green needle grass [Nasella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth], northern wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J. G. Sm.) Gould], western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in eight grass monocultures, and their binary mixtures with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), or cicer-milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) harvested once in August or September. A field study was conducted over a 7-yr period from 1998 to 2004 near Swift Current (lat. 50°25'N, long. 107°44'W, 824 m elev.), SK, Canada, using a randomized complete block design. Forage DM yield was similar between August and September harvests (P>0.05). Binary mixtures of alfalfa–grass produced highest (P<0.05) DM yield ranging from 2449 to 2758 kg ha−1. The monoculture of crested wheatgrass (2143 kg ha−1), sainfoin with crested wheatgrass (2061 kg ha−1), and cicer-milkvetch with green needle grass (1838 kg ha−1) or cicer-milkvetch with western wheatgrass (1861 kg ha−1) produced the second highest (P<0.05) DM yields in the ranking. The two warm-season grasses produced the lowest (P>0.05) DM yields over the 7-yr period. Monocultures of green needle grass or northern wheatgrass had the highest acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), while warm-season grasses with legumes had the lowest. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass and alfalfa with Russian wildrye had the highest crude protein (CP) concentrations. Monocultures of meadow bromegrass, crested wheatgrass, green needle grass, or cicer-milkvetch with meadow bromegrass, and sainfoin with crested wheatgrass had the lowest CP concentrations. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greater for mixtures than for the grass monocultures. Concentration of Ca and P was greater for warm-season grasses than cool-season grasses. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass was the best combination considering yield, quality, and compatibility for deferred grazing in late summer and fall in the semiarid prairies. Tested warm-season grasses are not recommended for seeding as binary mixtures with legumes for southwestern Saskatchewan.

Effect of Aminocyclopyrachlor on Seedling Grasses

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie L. Wirt ◽  
Rodney G. Lym
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Separate Experiment ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

When invasive weeds are removed with herbicides, revegetation of native species is often desirable. The extended soil activity of aminocyclopyrachlor is important for long-term weed control but could reduce recovery of native species as well. The effect of aminocyclopyrachlor applied alone or with chlorsulfuron on cool- and warm-season grass species commonly used for revegetation was evaluated. The cool-season grasses included green needlegrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and western wheatgrass, whereas the warm-season grasses were big bluestem, sideoats grama, and switchgrass. A separate experiment was conducted for each species. Aminocyclopyrachlor was applied at 91 to 329 g ha−1 alone or with chlorsulfuron from 42 to 133 g ha−1 approximately 30 d after emergence. Warm-season grasses generally were more tolerant of aminocyclopyrachlor than the cool-season grasses evaluated in this study. Switchgrass and big bluestem were the most tolerant of the warm-season species when aminocyclopyrachlor was applied at 168 g ha−1 and averaged 199 and 150% forage production, respectively, compared with the control. Green needlegrass was the most tolerant cool-season grass. Western wheatgrass was the least tolerant species evaluated because forage production only averaged 32% of the control the year after treatment and thus would not be suitable for seeding if aminocyclopyrachlor was applied. The effect of chlorsulfuron applied with aminocyclopyrachlor varied by grass species. For example, green needlegrass injury 8 wk after treatment (WAT) averaged 30 and 48% when aminocylopyrachlor was applied alone, respectively, but injury was reduced to less than 16% when aminocyclopyrachlor was applied with chlorsulfuron. However, injury on the less-tolerant intermediate wheatgrass ranged from 48 to 92% by 4 WAT when aminocyclopyrachlor was applied alone and from 60 to 86% when chlorsulfuron was included in the treatment.

Root architecture of warm- and cool-season grasses: relationship to mycorrhizal dependence

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. D. Hetrick ◽  
G. W. T. Wilson ◽  
J. F. Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Root Architecture ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Topological Analysis ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Root Number ◽  
P Fertilization ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Root Branching ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Root architecture of five warm-season and five cool-season grasses was compared. The cool-season grasses had significantly more primary and secondary roots than warm-season grasses, and the diameter of primary, secondary, and tertiary roots of cool-season grasses was significantly smaller than that of warm-season grasses. Soil microorganisms, mycorrhizae, and P fertilization did not affect root number or diameter of the cool-season grasses; root number of warm-season grasses did respond to mycorrhizae and P fertilization, but not soil microorganisms. Specific root length of cool-season grasses was not altered by mycorrhizae, soil microbes, or P fertilization, and was significantly greater than that of warm-season grasses, particularly those inoculated with mycorrhizae. Topological analysis of root architecture revealed that mycorrhizal symbiosis inhibited root branching in warm-season grasses but had no effect on rooting strategy of cool-season grasses. In contrast, P fertilization did not substantially alter root branching in warm- or cool-season grasses. Apparently, root architecture of the mycorrhizal-dependent warm-season grasses is quite plastic, allowing energy expenditure for root development to be conserved; the root architecture of the less mycorrhizal-dependent cool-season grasses appears to be fixed and does not alter to accommodate the symbiosis. Key words: topology, rooting strategy, C3, C4.

scholarly journals Evaluating Digestibility and Toxicity of Native Warm-season Grasses for Equines

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Ghajar ◽  
H McKenzie ◽  
J Fike ◽  
B McIntosh ◽  
B F Tracy
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Digestible Energy ◽  
Eastern Gamagrass ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Structural Carbohydrate ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Abstract Introduced cool-season grasses are dominant in Virginia’s grasslands, but their high digestible energy and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels pose a risk for horses prone to obesity and laminitis. Native warm-season grasses (NWSG) have lower digestible energy and NSC levels that may be more suitable for horses susceptible to laminitis. Although NWSGs have desirable characteristics, they are novel forages for horses. Little is known about NWSG intake or potential toxicity to horses or how grazing by horses may affect NWSG swards. The overall objectives of this research were to 1) assess voluntary intake, toxicological response, and apparent digestibility of NWSG hays fed to horses; and 2) evaluate the characteristics of three NWSG species under equine grazing. For the first objective, a hay feeding trial using indiangrass (IG) (Sorghastrum nutans) and big bluestem (BB) (Andropogon gerardii) was conducted with 9 Thoroughbred geldings in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Voluntary dry matter intake of IG and BB hays by horses were 1.3% and 1.1% of BW/d, lower than orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), an introduced cool-season grass, at 1.7% of BW/d (P = 0.0020). Biomarkers for hepatotoxicity remained within acceptable ranges for all treatments. Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) did not differ among hays, ranging from 39 to 43%. Non-structural carbohydrate levels ranged from 4.4 to 5.4%, below maximum recommended concentrations for horses susceptible to laminitis. For the second objective, a grazing trial was conducted comparing IG, BB, and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) (EG) yields, forage losses, changes in vegetative composition, and effects on equine bodyweight. Nine, 0.1-hectare plots were seeded with one of the three native grass treatments, and each plot was grazed by one Thoroughbred gelding in two grazing bouts, one in July and another in September 2019. Indiangrass had the greatest available forage, at 4340 kg/ha, compared with 3590 kg/ha from BB (P &lt; 0.0001). Eastern gamagrass plots established poorly, and had only 650 kg/ha available forage during the experiment. Grazing reduced standing cover of native grasses in IG and BB treatments by about 30%. Horses lost 0.5 to 1.5 kg BW/d on all treatments. Findings suggest indiangrass and big bluestem merit further consideration as forages for horses susceptible to obesity and pasture-associated laminitis.

Salinity effects on perennial, warm-season (C4) grass germination adapted to the northern Great Plains

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 873-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Schmer ◽  
Q. Xue ◽  
J. R. Hendrickson
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Salinity Effects ◽  
Prairie Cordgrass

Schmer, M. R., Xue, Q. and Hendrickson, J. R. 2012. Salinity effects on perennial, warm-season (C4) grass germination adapted to the northern Great Plains. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 873–881. Limited information is available on the germination of perennial C4grasses adapted to the northern Great Plains under saline conditions. Big bluestem (Andropogen gerardii Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) seeds were evaluated under non-saline and saline conditions corresponding to electric conductivity (EC) values of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 dS m−1, respectively. Ten cultivars were evaluated to determine salinity tolerance differences among and within species. Seeds were monitored for 21 d and analyzed for final germination percentage (GP), germination rate index (GRI), corrected germination rate index (CGRI), and germination velocity (GV). Differences among species were observed for all indices tested (P<0.01). Indices showed within species variation for big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass. Big bluestem had the highest germination rates under increased salinity levels while prairie cordgrass had the lowest germination rates under non-saline and saline conditions. Indiangrass showed higher seed germination than switchgrass under low EC levels (0 to 4 dS m−1) but declined at a higher rate when EC levels exceeded 16 dS m−1. Results from this study suggest grassland reestablishment from seed on variable saline soils will be dependent on both the species chosen and the specific cultivar used.

scholarly journals Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Delaquis ◽  
Roger Samson ◽  
Philippe Seguin ◽  
Arif Mustafa ◽  
Huguette Martel
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Equilibrium Density ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Spring Harvest ◽  
Made In

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatumL.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardiiV.) are promising warm-season grasses for biomass production. Understanding the morphological and quality-related traits of these grasses can guide breeders in developing strategies to improve yield and quality for bioindustrial applications. Elite selections were made in Southern Quebec from four promising varieties of switchgrass and one of big bluestem. Biomass yield, morphological characteristics, and selected quality traits were evaluated at two sites in 2011 and 2012. Significant variation was detected for all measured characteristics, with differences varying by site and year. In some cases the selection process modified characteristics including increasing height and reducing tiller mortality. Switchgrasses reached a similar tiller equilibrium density in both years of 690 m−2and 379 m−2at a productive and marginal site, respectively. Differences in yield were pronounced at the marginal site, with some advanced selections having a higher yield than their parent varieties. Switchgrass yields were generally greater than those of big bluestem. A delayed spring harvest date greatly reduced yield but reduced moisture content and slightly increased cellulose concentration. Big bluestem had a higher cellulose content than switchgrass, likely due to greater stem content.

scholarly journals The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Alberto Mantino ◽  
Vittoria Giannini ◽  
Cristiano Tozzini ◽  
Enrico Bonari ◽  
Giorgio Ragaglini
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Trifolium Incarnatum ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
Hedysarum Coronarium ◽  
Mature Stands ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

In the Mediterranean rainfed systems, perennial warm-season grasses are profitable crops for the production of herbage as forage or feedstock for bioenergy purposes. During summer, when the production of cool-season crops is scarce, warm-season grasses can improve the productivity and stability of forage cropping systems. In Italy, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) can be cultivated for herbage production or as energy crop. The objective of this work was evaluating if relay intercropping with cool-season legumes could be suited to convert a mature stand of switchgrass from energy to dual, energy and forage, production, together with improving the productivity and the quality of the harvestable biomass. All these things considered, a field experiment was carried out in Central Italy, on mature stands of two switchgrass varieties, Alamo and Blackwell, overseeded with two legumes: sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). The intercropping system was compared with fertilized and un-fertilized pure switchgrass stands. After two years of study, data showed that the intercropping increased the total above ground biomass (AGB) productivity. In the second year, the increase in total AGB production for switchgrass mixtures compared with the pure stands was greater for sulla, a biennial legume, than crimson clover.

Differential responses of C3 and C4 grasses to mycorrhizal symbiosis, phosphorus fertilization, and soil microorganisms

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. D. Hetrick ◽  
G. W. T. Wilson ◽  
T. C. Todd
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Root Colonization ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
P Fertilization ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Mycorrhizal Root ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

The responses of five C4, warm-season and five C3, cool-season tallgrass prairie grasses to phosphorus (P) fertilization, mycorrhizae, and soil microorganisms were compared in greenhouse studies. The warm-season grasses responded positively to mycorrhizae or to P fertilization, but mycorrhizal plants did not respond to P. The soil microflora reduced mycorrhizal plant dry weight and root colonization. In contrast, cool-season grasses did not respond to mycorrhizae or P fertilization. Soil microorganisms did not suppress cool-season plant growth, but root colonization was reduced in nonsterile soil. For the warm-season grasses there was an inverse relationship between mycorrhizal root colonization and P fertilization and a positive relationship between root colonization and plant dry weight. For the cool-season grasses there was also an inverse relationship between root colonization and P fertilization, but the relationship between root colonization and plant dry weight was negative. In both the warm-season and cool-season grasses, low levels of mycorrhizal root colonization persisted even when P fertilization was sufficient to eliminate mycorrhizal effects on plant growth. Thus, warm- and cool-season grasses display profoundly different strategies for nutrient acquisition. Key words: cool-season grasses, warm-season grasses, vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizae.

Potential utilization of native prairie grasses from western Canada as ethanol feedstock

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1067-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Jefferson ◽  
W. Paul McCaughey ◽  
Ken May ◽  
Jay Woosaree ◽  
Linden McFarlane
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Schizachyrium Scoparium ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Little Bluestem ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

The utilization of native grass species for potential biomass feedstocks of the emerging ethanol industry requires more information about their cellulose and hemicellulose concentration. Ten native species were grown at seven sites across the prairie region of western Canada for two to four growing seasons. Northern wheatgrass, Elymus lanceolatus, produced high concentrations of cellulose (363 g kg-1) but low concentrations of hemicellulose (266 g kg-1). Green needlegrass, Nasella viridula, produced high concentrations of both constituents (351 and 307 g kg-1). Four warm-season grasses, big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, prairie sandreed, Calamovilfa longifolia, and switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, had 346, 342, 340 and 338 g kg-1, respectively, concentrations of cellulose and also exhibited a positive response to temperature that resulted in increased hemicellulose concentration. Accumulated thermal time (degree day base 10°C) was correlated to hemicellulose concentrations in the warm-season grasses but not for cool-season grasses. Holocellulose (cellulose + hemicellulose) concentration differences varied among site-years but warm-season grasses were more stable in hollocellulose concentration than cool-season grasses. Key words: Biomass, native grasses, cellulose, hemicellulose, biofuel

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