Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands
Tolerance to frequent defoliations is critical for native warm-season grasses managed for forage and wildlife habitat. Yield response of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) to treatments (30-, 40-, 60-, 90- or 120-d har...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2014-02-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/4/1/90 |
| _version_ | 1830089970765791232 |
|---|---|
| author | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin |
| author_facet | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin |
| author_sort | Vitalis W. Temu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tolerance to frequent defoliations is critical for native warm-season grasses managed for forage and wildlife habitat. Yield response of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) to treatments (30-, 40-, 60-, 90- or 120-d harvest intervals) and durations were assessed on early-succession mixed stands. Over three years, phased harvestings were initiated in May, on sets of randomized plots, in five replications to produce one-, two-, and three-year old stands, by the third year. Each plot had marked indiangrass and big bluestem plants which were hand-clipped on harvest-days before whole-plot harvesting. Species yields were greater in first- than second-year plots but not affected by treatments. June–September yields in 2008 were greatest for the 30-d, and more in the first- (8472 kg ha−1) than second-year (7627 kg ha−1) plots. In 2009, yields were also greater in first- than second-year plots but without treatment effects. Recovery yields showed no treatment effect, but were about 67% less for second- compared to first-year plots and much less than plots never harvested before. Data suggest that harvesting similar mixed native warm-season grass stands at 30- to 40-d intervals may provide good hay yields without compromising post-season stand recovery for multiple uses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:54:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d641465ac1e14cd1be9f2e3bb33e0e75 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:54:44Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d641465ac1e14cd1be9f2e3bb33e0e752022-12-21T22:23:54ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952014-02-01419010710.3390/agronomy4010090agronomy4010090Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed StandsVitalis W. Temu0Brian J. Rude1Brian S. Baldwin2Agricultural Research Station, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USAPlant and Soil Sciences Department & Animal and Dairy Science Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USAPlant and Soil Sciences Department & Animal and Dairy Science Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USATolerance to frequent defoliations is critical for native warm-season grasses managed for forage and wildlife habitat. Yield response of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) to treatments (30-, 40-, 60-, 90- or 120-d harvest intervals) and durations were assessed on early-succession mixed stands. Over three years, phased harvestings were initiated in May, on sets of randomized plots, in five replications to produce one-, two-, and three-year old stands, by the third year. Each plot had marked indiangrass and big bluestem plants which were hand-clipped on harvest-days before whole-plot harvesting. Species yields were greater in first- than second-year plots but not affected by treatments. June–September yields in 2008 were greatest for the 30-d, and more in the first- (8472 kg ha−1) than second-year (7627 kg ha−1) plots. In 2009, yields were also greater in first- than second-year plots but without treatment effects. Recovery yields showed no treatment effect, but were about 67% less for second- compared to first-year plots and much less than plots never harvested before. Data suggest that harvesting similar mixed native warm-season grass stands at 30- to 40-d intervals may provide good hay yields without compromising post-season stand recovery for multiple uses.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/4/1/90Native grasswarm-seasonharvestforageyieldbluestemdefoliationrecovery |
| spellingShingle | Vitalis W. Temu Brian J. Rude Brian S. Baldwin Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands Agronomy Native grass warm-season harvest forage yield bluestem defoliation recovery |
| title | Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_full | Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_fullStr | Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_short | Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands |
| title_sort | yield response of native warm season forage grasses to harvest intervals and durations in mixed stands |
| topic | Native grass warm-season harvest forage yield bluestem defoliation recovery |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/4/1/90 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vitaliswtemu yieldresponseofnativewarmseasonforagegrassestoharvestintervalsanddurationsinmixedstands AT brianjrude yieldresponseofnativewarmseasonforagegrassestoharvestintervalsanddurationsinmixedstands AT briansbaldwin yieldresponseofnativewarmseasonforagegrassestoharvestintervalsanddurationsinmixedstands |