Native Warm Season Grass Management

1. Native Warm Season Grass Management Brian JonesExtension Agronomist

2. Native Warm Season Grasses • Grasses were historically native • Provided most of the forage for early settlers • Free roaming livestock and overgrazing • Grow during the warm months of the year • Dormant during autumn and winter • Opposite life cycle than that of cool season grasses (tall fescue, etc.)

3. Many Species • Big bluestem • Little bluestem • Broomsedge bluestem • Indiangrass • Switchgrass • Sideoats grama • Eastern gamagrass

4. Big Bluestem • Height of 8-9 feet • Fine silky hairs near the base of upper leaf • Seedhead resembles turkey foot • Extremely drought tolerant • Extensive root system (12 feet deep) • Wildlife and forage

5. Little Bluestem • Grows 2-4 feet • Stem flattened at base • Red or purplish during early growth • Mature plants reddish-brown • Quality wildlife habitat

6. Switchgrass • Grows 6 to 10 feet • Early maturing • Flowers in early to mid-June • Extensive root system • Extremely drought tolerant • Also tolerant to wet soils • Wildlife and forage

7. QUESTIONS?

8. Uses of WSG • Wildlife habitat

9. WSG for Wildlife Habitat • Primary importance is cover, more often limiting factor • Early successional • Aerial predator prevention • NOT for “food plots”

10. WSG for Wildlife Habitat • “Bunch type” grasses • Open space at ground level • Allows mobility for small wildlife • Attractive for brood rearing • Also for nesting • Leaves remain erect, avoiding thatch buildup

11. WSG for Wildlife Habitat • Winter cover • Tall species provide protection from wind, rain and snow

12. Uses of WSG • Wildlife habitat • Erosion control

13. WSG for Erosion Control • WSG are excellent choice for sites not suitable for cropping • Highly erodible soils, rocky soils, riparian buffers, field corners • Field borders can increase quail and songbird populations, while still maintaining productivity • Usually less productive areas anyway (shading)

14. Uses of WSG • Wildlife habitat • Erosion control • Biofuel production

15. WSG for Bio-Fuel Production • Biofuels are renewable carbon-based energy sources • Typically think of switchgrass • Energy from: • Cellulosic ethanol production • Direct combustion or co-firing • Market has not developed

16. Uses of WSG • Wildlife habitat • Erosion control • Biofuel production • Forage production

17. WSG for Forage Production • Useful for both grazing and harvested forage • Highly productive during summer months • If managed can be high yielding and nutritious

18. The “fit” for Warm Season Grasses • Can complement current pasture and hay rotations • Highly palatable prior to heading • Most productive from June to September • Help to overcome the “summer slump” in our cool season species

19. Grazing WSG • Will not tolerate close, continuous grazing or cutting • will see yield decrease the following year • Must utilize some form of rotational grazing system to maximize yield and quality

20. Grazing Management • In VA: may begin grazing ESTABLISHED stands at the end of May/early June • Breaks winter dormancy in late April • Greens up early • Begin grazing at 12-18” • Graze to a height of 8-10” • Avoid overgrazing!

21. Grazing Management • Allow at least 5 weeks for 28-32” of new growth before grazing again • Consider haying if growth exceeds demand to maintain quality • May also creep graze very effectively • Grazing period ends in late August • Plant must have reserves going into winter

22. Grazing Preference

23. Grazing Productivity • Yield and animal gain are potentially high if managed correctly • VA research indicates 1 acre may support as much as 2.2 AU (0.45 acres/AU) • Gains of over 2 lbs/day have been reported • Avoid temptation to return to paddocks too early, must have adequate regrowth

24. Cutting Management • Manage differently than cool season hay • Research shown that one harvest is typically optimal • Two or more harvests per year have actually decreased total yield, and limited further yield • Maximum yield observed at anthesis (flowering), however quality suffers

25. Switchgrass Quality over Time mid-boot vegetative 20% emerged Burns et al., NC State

26. QUESTIONS?

27. WSG Establishment • Turns more people off than anything else • Can be difficult, but not impossible

28. WSG Establishment Top five reasons stands fail: • Planted too deep • Do not plant deeper than ¼” • Should see as much as 30% of seed on surface

29. WSG Establishment Top five reasons stands fail: • Planted too deep • Inadequate weed control

30. WSG Establishment: weed control • WSG do not compete well • Control perennial cool-season grass stands in the fall prior to planting • Graze/hay/mow closely • Apply burndown herbicides • Control summer annual and perennial competitors • Pre-emergence herbicide for broadleaf and selective grass control

31. WSG Establishment Top five reasons stands fail: • Planted too deep • Inadequate weed control • Planted too late • No later than mid-April to end of May

32. WSG Planting Date and Methods • Avoid planting too late: • Germination and growth reduced (plants need moisture early) • Greater levels of weed competition

33. WSG Planting Date and Methods • May be broadcast or drilled • Drilling preferred: better seeding rate control • Specialized seed box required • WSG seed are very fluffy, difficult to flow through drill • Reduced tillage very successful with proper drill • If broadcasting consider using a carrier (pelletized lime, fertilizer, cracked corn, etc) • Broadcasting will required thorough tillage followed by cultipacking

34. WSG Establishment Top five reasons stands fail: • Planted too deep • Inadequate weed control • Planted too late • Drill not calibrated / PLS not calculated • Determine PLS from seed label • Buy certified seed • Lower seed purity and germination (inherent dormancy)

35. Improving Germination of WSG • WSG (esp. switchgrass) have a high dormancy rate (survival mechanism) • Some clear cut areas will have switchgrass emerge after 100+ years • Break dormancy by stratification • Wet chilling process involves soaking then storing in a cool location and then drying • May buy cold-stratified seed

36. WSG Establishment Top five reasons stands fail: • Planted too deep • Inadequate weed control • Planted too late • Drill not calibrated / PLS not calculated • No patience! • Stands can take up to a year to become established

37. Other considerations for WSG • Seeding rates • Depend on objectives • Wildlife require a more open stand (4 – 6 lb PLS) • For pasture and hayfields, plant 8 – 12 lb PLS

38. Other considerations for WSG • Mixtures • Consider mixing variety of species for wildlife • Tall mixes: bluestems, indiangrass, switchgrass • Shorter mixes: little bluestem, sideoats grama • Grazing or haying • May mix switchgrass with either big or little bluestem • Forage use efficiency is the key

39. Management flow chart

40. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?