DeLange Seed

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BIG BLUESTEM:  Andropogon gerardii

    Big bluestem is a dominant species of the tall-grass complex.  A warm-season perennial native grass, big bluestem often grows to heights in excess of six feet.  This grass has a strong deep root system with short rhizomes.  Big bluestem is a highly praised forage grass, as well as an exceptional conservation species.

    Best suited to loamy soils, big bluestem produces an abundance of wide bladed leaves highly palatable to all classes of livestock.  In pure stands or mixtures, it provides the soil excellent protection against erosion.  It builds soil organic matter rapidly through the decomposition of roots and tops.  Big bluestem provides good quality forage throughout the summer months and makes fair winter roughage.  For these reasons, big bluestem is often a preferred component species of grass mixtures when retiring cropland to meadows and pastures in eastern Kansas.

 

USE AND MANAGEMENT:

            Big bluestem is a prize forage species - highly nutritious, it is widely used for pasture and hay.  Big bluestem is one of the best quality forages in June, July, and August available to Kansas livestock producers.  It is also routinely utilized for wildlife habitat, reclamation of disturbed soils and erosion control.

           Grazing should be deferred or grazing pressure substantially reduced every two to three years for two to four months before seed ripens to allow plants to regain vigor and produce a seed crop.  Responsive to nitrogen fertilization and irrigation, big bluestem is well suited to intensive grazing for short durations with long periods of rest between utilization.

            Hay meadows should not be grazed during the growing season and only moderately during late fall and winter.  The best quality hay is cut in July, however, greater forage yield is achieved if cut in August.