An Analysis of Seed Production of Native Kansas Grasses during the Drought of 1939

The present interest in the control of soil erosion and the stabilization of agriculture has initiated a great amount of research to find suitable grasses and methods for restoring grass production. The results of these investigations have shown that the native climax grasses are best suited for reseeding in arid and semi-arid regions (10, 13). Large quantities of native grass seed are needed to stabilize and restore production on many acres of eroded, submarginal farm land. Native pastures damaged by drought, dust blowing, and overgrazing are now in need of additional native grass seed to restore their normal forage production. Research men, who attempt to develop better strains of native grasses by selection and breeding, need more information pertaining to the seed producing ability of native grasses in order to enable them to judge their selections.