native grass forage workshop:...

Native Grass Forage Workshop: Establishment

P. KeyserCenter for Native Grasslands Management and

UT Beef and Forage Center

Knoxville, TNJune 22-23, 2015

Establishing Natives

As with any perennial grass, must take care of key steps to be successful – details!!

Some Challenges with Natives…

Tiny seed (switchgrass >300,000/lb)

Slower germination (2 – 4 weeks)

Low seedling vigor (except e. gamagrass)

Grow root system first, then top

Vulnerable to weed pressure

It’s “the Competition, Stupid”

THE issue for successful establishment of natives!

Warm-season perennials

Cool-season perennials

Annual grasses

Advanced weed control is THE solution site selection, crop history both play a role…

But… Competition Control Does NotEnd with Seeding!

Clipping (above seedlings)

Broadleaves controlled >4-leaf stage

Annual grasses biggest challenge

Other Key Issues

Seed dormancy (Cave-in-Rock, e. gamagrass)

Shallow seeding

Good seed-soil contact

Limited (no) thatch

Plant Population Must Be There…

Planted June 19, 2008

Seedlings not started in first year (first 6-8 weeks), not likely to be there later…

Yield vs. Density (2nd year stand)

Switchgrass frequency

0 5 10 15 20

Biom

ass y

ield

(Mg/

ha)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1 plant/2 ft2 1 plant/ft2

Dormant-season Planting

Year 2 Yield did not vary by planting date at either location

Springfield Knoxville

Dormant-season PlantingMilan-2010

Planting treatment

Rye Fallow Oats Wheat Barley

Plan

t den

sity

/ m2

0

2

4

6

8

10

AB B A AB A

No difference in planting dates (March = April = June)

Second-year Harvests

a

a

a aa

b b

b

June harvest yields in year three based on second-year harvest frequency

J. Shultz MS Thesis data, 2013

Chart1

SG - 0 NSG - 0 N

SG - 60 NSG - 60 N

BB/IG - 0 NBB/IG - 0 N

BB/IG - 60 NBB/IG - 60 N

DM (kg/ha)

One-cut

Two-cut

6476

3170

8212

3134

2005

1435

1888

1621

Sheet1

SwitchgrassIndiangrass and Big Bluestem

Treatment0 kg N/ha67.3 kg N/ha0 kg N/ha67.3 kg N/haSE

Cut twice in previous year (Jun 8 + Aug 9, 2010)3170a3134a1435a1621a400

Cut once in precious year (Jun 8, 2010 only)6476b8212b2005b1888a400

SG - 0 NSG - 60 NBB/IG - 0 NBB/IG - 60 N

One-cut6476821220051888

Two-cut3170313414351621

Sheet1

DM (kg/ha)

One-cut

Two-cut

Sheet2

a

b

a

b

b

a

a

a

Sheet3

Batesville, AR

April 2014 planting; courtesy John Jennings, UA Extension

Summary

Pay attention to detail:Good, advanced, competition control

Plant shallow (clean, firm seedbed)

Manage first year weed pressure

Plan for production in year two (limit)

Questions?

Planted April 20, 2012, @ 10 PLS lb/acBB (6)/IG(3)/LB(1); picture taken Sept 28, 2012

Native Grass Forage Workshop: EstablishmentEstablishing NativesSome Challenges with Natives…It’s “the Competition, Stupid”But… Competition Control Does Not�End with Seeding!Other Key IssuesPlant Population Must Be There…Yield vs. Density (2nd year stand)Dormant-season PlantingDormant-season PlantingSlide Number 11Batesville, ARSummarySlide Number 14