native warm-season grassesfwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/fwf410/fwf410_website_files/nwsg_lecture.pdf ·...

1

Native Warm-Season GrassesIdentification, Establishment, and

Management

John P. Gruchy, Graduate Research Assistant

Craig A. Harper, Associate Professor

Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries

UT Agricultural Extension Service

AcknowledgementsDr. Craig Harper – NWSG establishment data,

identification slides

Dr. Jim Giocomo – Grassland bird models

Dr. Tom Barnes (UTK) – Herbicide data

Jeff Hodges (QU) – Establishment data

Funding sources:

OutlineHistory of grasslands in Eastern US

Grasslands in Tennessee

Identification of NWSG’s

What’s the big deal?

Restoring native grasslands from seedbank

Planting NWSG Establishment methods and weed control

Managing existing grasslands for wildlife

2

Grasslands in the Eastern US

Tallgrass prairie

Tallgrass savanna and woodland

99% loss of pre-settlement eastern grasslands

9 of 14(64%) grassland birds declining > 2%/year

Grasslands in TennesseeAreas around Nashville described as pastured over in native grasses “as far as the eye could see, with numerous heards of deer, elk, and buffalo.” (Ramsey 1853)

Grasslands in Tennessee

Big barrens

Blackland prairie Mountain coves

Oak savannah

3

What are NWSG?Perennial warm-season grasses native to Tennessee

May include any of ~ 35 species of grasses

Value for wildlife and forage varies considerably

Big bluestem Andropogon gerardiiReaches 8 – 9 feet in heightSeedhead 3 distinct racemesFine hairs on sheath

Grows on variety of soilsExtremely drought tolerantRoot systems up to 12 feet deep

Little bluestem Schizachyrium scopariumReaches 2 – 4 feet in heightSeedheads quite hairyStem red or purplishLeaves appear bluish

Mature plant reddish-brownGrows on variety of soils

4

Broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicusReaches 2 – 4 feet in heightStem pale yellowish-green; mature plant tannish-brownRacemes enclosed in spathe longer than racemeFlourishes in infertile soils

Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutansReaches 3 – 7 feet in heightSeedhead golden bronzeProminent ligule resembles “buck-horn sight”

Quite drought tolerant

Switchgrass Panicum virgatumReaches 3 – 6 feet in heightSeedhead open panicleLeaves up to 30 inches longLigule has dense patch of “hair”

Extremely drought tolerantDoes well on wet sites

5

Eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloidesReaches 5 – 9 feet in heightSeedhead 2 or 3 spikesLeaves 2 feet longForms large “stool”

Seed resembles corn

Sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendulaReaches 1 – 3 feet in height

Leaves 4 – 8 inches long

Oat-like seeds hang uniformly

2 growth forms:

- rhizomatous (8 – 14 inches tall) produces few seedheads

- tall upright (16 – 30 inches tall)produces many seedheadsreproduces from seed

Other native warm-season grassesPurple top

Tridens flavus

Beaked panicgrassPanicum anceps

Bushy bluestemAndropogon glomeratus

Native CSGWild rye (Elymus spp.)Little barley (Hordeum pusillum)

6

Why plant / establish NWSG?

wildlife habitat forage / biomass production

erosion control buffer strips

Why plant/establish NWSGNWSG and associated forbs and shrubs

may provide habitat for:NestingBrood rearingThermal coverEscape coverFood (forbs)

Why plant / establish NWSG?

You can actually plant cover!

7

Why plant/establish NWSGFarm bill programs

CRP – 200,000 acres of established grass cover in TNGRP – limited acreage in TNCREP – watershed protectionWHIP – wildlife related practices

Mid-South Center for Native Grassland ManagementBased out of UTKGoal: convert/manage 600,000 acres NWSG in TN

Structure and forbs are essential!

Is planting necessary?Burn, spray, and disc to stimulate seedbank for wildlife

8

NWSG occurring naturally…

indiangrass in Blount Co. little bluestem in Grundy Co.

little bluestem in Henry Co. big bluestem in Fayette Co.

Management practices are based on landowner objectives!

Eliminate non-native grassPrepare field for spraying by burning, haying, or grazingKill existing competition in season prior to planting!Spray in summer prior to planting:

- bermudagrass- crabgrass- dallisgrass- johnsongrass

Spray in fall prior to planting:- tall fescue- orchardgrass

Amend soil by bringing pH to 6.0 and P and K to medium

9

Recommended herbicides (per acre)Bermudagrass (flowering stage)

- 24 oz Arsenal AC®

- 5 qts Roundup UltraMax®

Crabgrass (earlier the better)- 1 qt Roundup® and/or 6 – 8 oz Plateau®

Dallisgrass (100% green-up)- 2 qts Roundup® and/or 12 oz Plateau®

Johnsongrass (18” at whorl)- 2 qts Roundup®, 12 oz Plateau® or 8 oz Select®

Include 0.25% non-ionic surfactant or 2 pints of methylated seed oil with Plateau®, Arsenal®, or Select®

Recommended herbicide (per acre)

Tall fescue and Orchardgrass

Spray when actively growing, 8 – 10” height

Spring spraying:2 qts Roundup UltraMax® with 8 oz Plateau®, plus 2 pts MSO and 2 pts 28-0-0 liquid fertilizer

Fall spraying:1 – 2 qts Roundup® plus 2 pts MSO

Eliminating tall fescue

Calibrate sprayer carefully!

Use surfactant

Fall kills are most effective Spring kills require a tank mix

10


Percentage cover tall fescue

020406080

100

Contol

Fall im

azapic

Fall im

azapic

sprin

g disc

Fall gl

yphos

ate

Fall gl

yphos

ate sprin

g disc

Spring

imaz

apic

Spring

glypho

sate


Percentage cover WSG

020406080

100

Contol

Fall im

azapic

Fall im

azapic

sprin

g disc

Fall gl

yphos

ate

Fall gl

yphos

ate sprin

g disc

Spring

imaz

apic

Spring

glypho

sate

Fall panicumJohnsongrassBroomsedge

Eliminating tall fescueSpring roundup 2004

July 2004

Fall plateau 2003 Fall plateau 2003

July 2004 April 2005

Pre-emergence herbicides control aggressive weeds

Allow seedbank to flourish

11

Eliminating orchardgrass

Percentage CSG cover

020

4060

80100

Contro

l

Fall im

azipic

Fall g

lypho

sate

Fall im

azipi

c sprin

g disc

Fall g

lypho

sate

sprin

g disc

Spring i

mazipi

c

Spring

glypho

sate

OrchardgrassTall fescue

Eliminating orchardgrass

Control Fall imazapic Fall glyphosatespring disc

Orchardgrass and bluegrass are plateau resistant

Orchardgrass MUST be sprayed with roundup, best results were from a fall kill

Planting NWSG

You can control species composition and density!

Plan out the arrangement and patch sizelandscape levelarea sensitivity (Dykes 2005)

Buffers are a good way to provide habitat in agricultural landscape

12

Determine seeding rate

Based on LANDOWNER OBJECTIVES!!

NWSG for wildlife: 4 – 5 lbs PLS / acreMay include 0.5 – 2 lbs PLS / acre forbsA mix of 3 or more species is common

NWSG for forage: 8 – 12 lbs PLS / acreNo forbs in plantingUsually 1, sometimes 2 species

Determine seeding ratePure Live Seed (PLS) is indicator of seed quality EVERY BAG will be different!

80%65% - 90%90% - 99%Switchgrass

75%50% - 90%65% - 90%Sideoats50%50% - 90%40% - 70%Little blue65%50% - 90%70% - 98%Indiangrass

65%50% - 90%60% - 90%Big blue

Suggested Min. PLS

Range of Germ

Range of Purity

SpeciesAcceptable seed quality standards

Source: Native Grass Seed – All You Ever Wanted to Know But Didn’t Know Who to Ask, The Native Grass Manager newsletter.


Seed purity: 87.5 % (found on seed tag)Germination: 62.3 % (found on seed tag)PLS = 87.5 X 62.3 / 100 = 54.1

Recommended seeding rate: 5 lbs PLS5 / 54.1 X 100 = 9.2 lbs / acre should be sown

ABC Seed Company Anywhere, USAABC Seed Company Anywhere, USACrop: Big BluestemVariety: RountreePurity: 87.5%Inert: 12.48%Other Crop: .02%Weed Seed: .00%Noxious Weeds: 0Origin: MO

Germination: 62.3%Dormant Seed: 10%Total Germ: 97.5%Lot #: BB702Date Tested: 1/31/05

13


Seed purity: 87.5 % (found on seed tag)Germination: 62.3 % (found on seed tag)PLS = 87.5 X 62.3 / 100 = 54.1

Recommended seeding rate: 5 lbs PLS5 / 54.1 X 100 = 9.2 lbs / acre should be sown

ABC Seed Company Anywhere, USAABC Seed Company Anywhere, USACrop: Big BluestemVariety: RountreePurity: 87.5%Inert: 12.48%Other Crop: .02%Weed Seed: .00%Noxious Weeds: 0Origin: MO

Germination: 62.3%Dormant Seed: 10%Total Germ: 97.5%Lot #: BB702Date Tested: 1/31/05

Using Plateau® for establishmentEfficacy of Plateau® with 5 species, 3 replications Treatments:

8 oz pre-emergence

12 oz pre-emergence

8 oz post-emergence

12 oz post-emergence

Planted 17 June 2002

10 lbs. PLS

Irrigated as needed

Counted 17 Sept 2002

Big Bluestem

AA

BB

B

0

20

40

60

80

100

seed

lings

per

m2

Pre-8 Pre-12 Post-8 Post-12 Control

Seedling establishment using Plateau® at the Knox Experiment Station, 2002

Source: Harper, C.A., G.D. Morgan, C.E. Dixon. Establishing NWSG with conventional and no-till technology and various rates of Plateau herbicide, 3rd Eastern Native Grass Symposium.

14

Big Bluestem8 oz Plateau®—

pre-emergence

Big Bluestem12 oz Plateau®—

post-emergence

Little Bluestem

ABB

AAB

B

0

20

40

60

80

100

seed

lings

per

m2



15

Big and Little BluestemBig Bluestem—

No Plateau®

Little Bluestem—

8 oz Plateau®

pre-emergence

Indiangrass

A A A A A

0

20

40

60

80

100

seed

lings

per

m2



Switchgrass

AB BAB AB

A

0

20

40

60

80

100

seed

lings

per

m2



16

Switchgrass

No Plateau®—

Control

Weed control

A A

C B

D0

20

40

60

80

100

perc

ent c

ontr

ol


Control of crabgrass with Plateau® at the Knox Experiment Station, 2002

Other herbicides for establishment(see labels for haying/grazing restrictions)***all of these will kill certain forbs***

Aatrex 4L® (atrazine; 2 qts / ac; pre-emergence)- big bluestem, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass

Ally® (metsulfuron methyl; 1/10th oz / ac; pre- or post-emergence)- bluestems, indiangrass, sideoats grama, switchgrass

Banvel® (dicamba; 1 – 4 pts / ac; pre- or post-emergence)- all grasses

2,4-D (1 – 4 pts / ac; post-emergence)- all grasses

Outrider® (sulfosulfuron; 0.75 – 2.0 oz / ac; post-emergence)- bluestems, indiangrass, sideoats grama, switchgrass

17

Other herbicides for establishment

4.79.06.0Control4.79.06.0Mowing

4.21.02.32.0Plateau pre3.22.11.92.4Plateau post2.57.71.75.3Bicep2.02.63.12.2Basis1.74.47.73.3Banvel1.73.44.93.1Accent1.83.06.92.52-4-D

Dry wt t/aStandWeed ControlVigorTreatment

1 = best, 9 = worst for all categories except Dry wt. Dry weight in tons/acre cut 8/26/02

Source: Salon, P.R. and M. van der Grinten, A Comparison of Herbicides for the Establishment of Warm Season Grasses, Poster presentation, 3rd Eastern Native Grass Symposium.

Timing and germinationPlant early (April – May), not late (June – July)Use quality seed (high germination / little inert material)

Plan to plant just prior to rain Later planting more susceptible to drought

Conventional seedingPlow / disc seedbed, then cultipack as necessaryTop-sow seed

Use special spreader or carrier with BB, LB, & IGCultipack over sown seed — DO NOT DISC IN!!Discing will bury seed too deep! Greater than ¼”, too deep. According to objectives, follow seeding with Plateau®

18

Conventional seeding

CultipackedNot Cultipacked

Seeding with a No-Till DrillSeed box

Depth bands

Drill Callibration

19

Success with a no-till drillSet depth bands to plant NO MORE than ¼ - inch deep

Check seed depth in planting furrows

Do it again

Do it one more time!

Up to HALF of the seed should be on top of ground

Success with a no-till drillSet depth bands to plant NO MORE than ¼ - inch deep

Check seed depth in planting furrows

Do it again

Do it one more time!

Up to HALF of the seed should be on top of ground

No-till drill troubleshootingPLS rates vary with the wind — calibrate the drill!Make sure seed tubes are clear

Make sure chain on opening coulters not kinkedMake sure hydraulic fittings on drill match tractorBring 1-inch pin to tow drillCheck acreage counter on drill before planting

20

Design and treatmentsRandomized split plot (tillage and herbicide)

6’ X 25’ cells with 4 replications per species- big bluestemlittle bluestem- indiangrass- switchgrass

Planted 2 June 1999Sprayed mid-June 99Burned March 2001 and March 2002Counted late April 2001/02 with 3 random m2 estimates

Top-sow vs. No-tillMiddle TN Exp Station — planted 6/99; counted 5/02Seeding rate — 8 lb PLS / ac; Plateau® rate — 8 oz / ac

Established bunches / m2

Conventional Till No-TillP NP P NP

Big Bluestem 3 5 14 12Little Bluestem 3 2 9 7Indiangrass 5 4 17 14Switchgrass 1 3 3 8

1 seedling / m2 adequate for wildlife habitat10 seedlings / m2 adequate for haying

ProgressionConventional Till No-Till

September 1999

May 2001 May 2001

September 1999

21

Top reasons for failure

Planted too deep and/or too late

Did not prepare seedbed

Did not control weeds

Did not calculate PLS

Did not calibrate drill

No patience

No rain

Patience is a virtue!Progression of NWSG growth

July 2000

June 2001

September 2000

September 2001

Maintenance herbicide applications

Plateau® to control labeled grasses and broadleaf weeds

2,4-D Amine (1 – 2 qts / acre) for labeled broadleaf control

Pursuit® (2 oz / acre) for non-legume broadleaf control

Garlon 3A® (2 qts / acre) for labeled woody species

Arsenal AC® (16 – 24 oz / acre) for labeled woody species

Ally® (metsulfuron methyl; 4/10th oz / acre)- for horseweed and sericea lespedeza

22

Establishment summaryPlanting in April/May is recommended

If adequate moisture is available…top sowing or no-till drilling is effective

Drill calibration and setting is paramount!

For wildlife habitat, 4 – 5 lbs. PLS is recommended

For haying, 10 lbs. PLS is recommended

If planting where weeds are a problem…8 oz Plateau® is sufficient for general weed control

Pre-emergence application provided better weed control

Managing existing grass stands

Reasons for management

Management techniques

Management regimes

Management concerns

NWSG get too thick over timeMean Number of Clumps per Square

Meter

02468

1012141618

2001 2002 2003 2004

Big bluestemLittle bluestemIndiangrassSwithchgrass*

Source: Jones, B.C, J.P. Gruchy, C.A. Harper. Rate of increase among NWSG planted using conventional and no-till technology. 4th Eastern Native Grass Symposium

23

Management sets back succession

Research objectives70% NWSG fields in TN are unmanaged (Dykes)

Determine effects of management techniques and timing of disturbance on vegetation structure and composition

Assess treatment effects in terms of habitat quality for bobwhite quail

Evaluate management alternatives to prescribed fire

Research designEach treatment and control assigned to a 0.5- acre cell in an RCB design

Each treatment and control was replicated 3 times within each field

24

DiscingPlots mowed to prepare for discing

Plots disced 8 – 10 inches deep November 2003 and March 2004

4 – 6 passes, varied by soil moisture, texture

Prescribed burningBurns conducted in March and September 2004

Firing techniques included backfires and headfires

Strip herbicidePlots mowed to prepare for spraying March 2003

Plots sprayed with Clethodim (Select) @ 10 oz / acre May 2003

Alternating nozzle tips closed off to create streaking effect

25

Data collectionVegetation structure, floral composition, invertebrate availability, seed rain, and soil loss measured

Openness, VOR, cone of vulnerability, disc of vulnerability measured

Percentage cover of vegetation classes estimated using 1 m2 sampling frame

Visual Obstruction Reading

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

JUNE JULY AUG NOV FEB

Met

ers

ControlSpring burnBushhogFall discHerbicideSpring disc

Visual Obstruction Reading

26

Percentage forb cover

0

20

40

60

80

100



Percentage forb cover August 2004

0

20

40

60

80

100

Control Springburn

Bushhog Fall disc Herbicide Springdisc


0

20

40

60

80

100

Control Springburn


OtherPreferred

27


Disced fall 2003

Percentage WSG cover

0

20

40

60

80

100



Percentage WSG cover August 2004

0

20

40

60

80

100

Control

Spring b

urn

Bushhog

Fall disc

Herbici

de

Spring d

isc

28


0

20

40

60

80

100

Control Springburn


UndesirableUnplantedPlanted


NWSG control

Ground sighting distance (openness)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2


Met

ers

ControlSpring burnBushhogFall discStrip herbicideSpring disc

29



0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Control Spring burn Bushhog Fall disc Stripherbicide

Spring disc

Gra

ms/

squa

re m

eter

Soil loss

Aboveground biomass estimated using Robel pole measurements

Soil loss modeled using RUSLE2 software

None of the treatments caused soil loss greater than acceptable levels determined by RUSLE

30

Management techniques summary

Discing treatments increased forb cover and openness at ground level and reduced warm-season grass cover

Invertebrate biomass was abundant in all treatments

Soil loss was within acceptable levels for all treatments

Management Arrangement

Disc/burn in strips

Alternate years

Create a “mosaic”of succession within a field

Management suggestions

Plant fire brakes Amend soils

Leave some shrub cover RubusSumacPlum thickets

Address weed problems prior to discing/burning

31

Management Arrangement

Management concerns

Fire liabilitychange paradigms – education

Threatened species managementArea sensitivity – target large consolidated blocksDecrease undesirable edge effects

Negative effects of managementBurningMowing

May June July

Nest initiation window

Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

32

May June July


Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

May June July


Last day to start a nest

Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

May June July


Last day to start a nest

Up to six nesting attempts for Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrows

Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

33

Mow

ing

15 M

ay

Last day to start a nestAfter mowing…

Grasshopper Sparrows nesting success reduced (reduced cover)

Henslow’s Sparrows leave the area (habitat unsuitable)

May June July


Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

Mow

ing

15 J

une

Last day to start a nestAfter mowing…

Grasshopper Sparrows nesting success reduced (reduced cover)

Henslow’s Sparrows leave the area (habitat unsuitable)

May June July


Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

Mow

ing

15 J

uly

Last day to start a nestMay June July


Successful nest

Unsuccessful nest

34 days

14 days

34

Grazing management

Use Paddock System

Don’t graze/hay grasses too low

Don’t graze/hay too often or too late

35

Savannah management

Low stem density ~ 20 BA

Fire frequency determined by management objective

Fire may damage oaks

Timber production is not primary objective

36

ReferencesA Landowner’s Guide to NWSG in the Mid-Southhttp://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/PB1746.pdf

Herbicide labelshttp://www.cdms.net/manuf/manuf.asp

Botanyhttp://plants.usda.gov/index.htmlhttp://tenn.bio.utk.edu/index.html

Managing grasslands for profithttp://www.glti.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/publications/

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