Clipping Frequency and Intensity Effects on Big Bluestem Yield, Quality, and Persistence

Forwood, J. R.; Magai, M. M.

doi:10.2307/4002571

Cited by 27 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Repeated defoliation of warm-season grasses has been reported to have carryover effects from year to year (Kinsinger and Hopkins, 1961;Forwood and Magai, 1992). The decrease in TNC between December and April differed among years increasing linearly (Table 5) and was consistent with responses noted above for basal stems and crowns.…”

Section: Rootssupporting

confidence: 83%

Grazing Management of Flaccidgrass Pastures in Autumn

Burns

Fisher

2012

Crop Science

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Carostan' flaccidgrass {Pennisetum flaccidumGriseb.) is a perennial warm-season grass with potential for pasture, but appropriate autumn (September to November) management is needed to maintain forage mass (FM) production and prevent declines in plant density. We evaluated 10 treatments over 3 yr consisting of an ungrazed control, four treatments with multiple grazing events (MG), four treatments with a single grazing event (SG), and one treatment grazed after frost. The winter residues after the treatments were greatest (P < 0.01) when ungrazed compared with the grazed treatments (3347 vs. 2265 kg ha"'') and differed (P < 0.01) among and between (P < 0.01) the MG and SG treatments. Plant density decreased from 13 to 27% with 8 to 10 wk of regrowth before frost. Greater plant density decline (60%) occurred when plots were grazed three times and only allowed 4 wk of regrowth before frost. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) of ungrazed basal stems, crowns, and roots sampled in December were 158, 193, and 250 g kg-\ respectively, and when grazed were 124, 183, and 253 g kg-\ respectively. By April TNC had declined 56, 35, and 25%, respectively. Plant density was not related to autumn total FM, FM regrowth, or overwintering residue but was related (P < 0.02) to TNC of December roots (r = 0.59) and TNC of April basal stems (r = 0.42), crowns (r = 0.61), and roots (r = 0.66). Allowing 6 wk of regrowth before frost minimized plant density losses for flaccidgrass.

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Section: Rootssupporting

confidence: 83%

Grazing Management of Flaccidgrass Pastures in Autumn

Burns

Fisher

2012

Crop Science

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“…In fact, in all species, the 20-cm cutting-height produced >100% more forage DM than its 10-cm counterpart. The treatment differences in forage biomass were actually consistent with reported negative effects of severe defoliation on plant growth (Ferraro & Oesterheld, 2002 warm-season grasses by over 60% (Mullahey, 1990;Forwood & Magai, 1992). This is so because proportions of photosynthetic tissue retained on defoliated plants usually influence how quickly they repair their damaged tissues (Oesterheld & McNaughton, 1991;Lee et al, 2000;Ferraro & Oesterheld, 2002).…”

Section: Forage Biomasssupporting

confidence: 72%

Effects of Root-trimming and Cutting-heights on Growth Performance of Potted Native Warm-season Grasses

Temu

Johnson

Kering

2016

JPS

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Mechanized transplanting of native warm-season grass (NWSG) seedlings raised in biodegradable strip-cups may require trimming outgrown and entwined roots to facilitate individual placement and complete root covering. During establishment, mowing is often used to reduce weed competition and promote tillering. In two randomized complete block split-split-plot design experiments, effects of root-trimming and cutting-height on growth and biomass production of potted NWSGs [big bluestem (BB, Andropogon gerardii Vitman), eastern gamagrass (GG, Tripsacum dactyloides L.), indiangrass (IG, Sorghastrum nutans L.), and switchgrass (SG, Panicum virgatum L.)] were assessed. Six-week old seedlings were transplanted, with or without root-trimming, and four of each type and species, assigned to 10-, 15-, or 20-cm cutting-height. All plants were fertilized uniformly and watered sufficiently. After a 7-d adjustment period, plants were clipped to 10 cm which promoted tillering. A three-week regrowth was then allowed before the first of three forage harvests, at assigned cutting-heights. Plant heights were recorded every two weeks after transplanting and on each harvest date. Data were analyzed for effects of root-trimming, cutting-height, and species. Root-trimming had no effect on the parameters. Cutting-height had no effect on plant heights except for second GG and SG regrowths, and/or the third BB and SG. Cutting-height affected only SG forage biomass significantly (P < 0.05) during year1 and every species during year2 with 100%+ greater values at the 20-than the 10-cm. All 20-cm average growth rates and belowground biomass in year2 were greater (P < 0.001) than the 10-cm by > 100%, but with similar root:total biomass ratios. Overall, species yield increased in the order; IG

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“…However, defoliation may damage plants excessively to result in poor growth [17], and reduced subsequent yields. In fact, yield reductions of over 60% due to multiple defoliations have been observed on LB [18] and BB [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands

2014

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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 ) 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.

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Clipping Frequency and Intensity Effects on Big Bluestem Yield, Quality, and Persistence

Cited by 27 publications

References 9 publications

Grazing Management of Flaccidgrass Pastures in Autumn

Grazing Management of Flaccidgrass Pastures in Autumn

Effects of Root-trimming and Cutting-heights on Growth Performance of Potted Native Warm-season Grasses

Yield Response of Native Warm-Season Forage Grasses to Harvest Intervals and Durations in Mixed Stands

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