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Effects of Strain Source and Management Practice on Forage Yields of Two Warm‐Season Prairie Grasses 1
Author(s) -
Newell L. C.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1968.0011183x000800020022x
Subject(s) - panicum virgatum , biology , agronomy , andropogon , panicum , forage , grazing , hybrid , growing season , poaceae , ecology , bioenergy , renewable energy
Domestic seed collections of two of the tall prairie grasses from native meadows and ranges were compared in three Nebraska environments in a 4‐year period. They were evaluated as to source and as genetic stock for variety improvement. The two taxonomic groups were represented by 10 strains each of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., and of the big bluestem complex, Andropogon gerardi Vitman and A. hallii Hack., obtained from different origins in the Great Plains and adjacent prairies. Strains differed greatly in response to soil type, nitrogen fertilization, and forage harvesting management. Except where limited by short season, the late‐maturing southern strains generally gave larger yields than local strains and early maturing northern strains. Annual nitrogen fertilization was increasingly effective in forage production over years. Yields of the tall, late‐maturing switchgrasses were adversely affected by frequent clipping. Bluestem hybrids and switchgrasses of intermediate type showed excellence for summer grazing over a broad range of environment