Introduced Grasses
As a group, the introduced grasses are some of the
most important forage and turf grasses in Kansas. These grasses
introduced from around the world, through passage of time and
breeding efforts, have become naturalized to those sections of the
country to which they are adapted. Kansas, due to its geography, is
often referred to as a transition state. Many grasses have a limited
adaptation to Kansas. However, relatively few perform well over a
wide area of the state. The introduced grasses include both warm and
cool-season grasses. One of the most important differences between
warm and cool-season grasses is the way in which they conduct
photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants
convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.
This process can be credited for all life on earth. The atmosphere
contains very little carbon dioxide (0.03%), the success of a plant
is dependent upon its ability to collect and use carbon dioxide. The
warm-season grasses have what is referred to as a C4 photosynthetic
process, while the cool-season grasses adapted to Kansas use a C3
photosynthesis system.
C4 (warm-season) plants are more efficient in
gathering carbon dioxide than are the C3 (cool-season) plants when
both are growing at optimum temperature. The optimum temperature for
growth of cool-season grasses is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit while
it is 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit for warm-season grasses.
Warm-season grasses are also more efficient in water use than the
cool-season grasses. These differences explain why warm-season
grasses are more productive in the hot/dry summer months while
cool-season grasses are most productive during the cool and moist,
spring and fall months.
In Kansas, the cool-season introduced grasses are
utilized to a much greater extent than are the warm-season. Perhaps
the best suited of the cool-season grasses are smooth bromegrass and
tall fescue. Other cool-season grasses with more limited adaptation
include; orchardgrass, reed canarygrass, timothy, Kentucky
bluegrass, and the ryegrasses.
As a group these cool-season introduced grasses
are highly responsive to fertilization and proper management. It is
important to understand the growth and quality characteristics of
these grasses in order to design the proper forage program for a
particular ranch operation. For example, if fall pasture is needed
or if forage needs to be stockpiled for winter pastures, tall fescue
is a better selection than either smooth bromegrass or orchardgrass.
On-the-other-hand, if spring pasture or quality hay production is
the producer's goal, both smooth bromegrass and orchardgrass are
superior to tall fescue.
Seeding legumes in combination with the
cool-season grasses is an excellent management practice. Legumes can
increase carrying capacity, improve quality and digestability as
well as lower fertilizer costs. However, if the two species are to
coexist, the grass/legume mixture must be managed properly. Proper
management would include; liming to near neutral pH, annual
application of potassium and phosphate fertilizer, heavy grazing
pressure or clipping of grass in early spring to allow the legume
the luxury of less competition and either rotational intensive
grazing or periods of grazing deferment when necessary.
Examples of warm-season introduced grasses planted
in Kansas include the old world bluestems, weeping lovegrass, and
bermuda grass. None of these grasses are utilized to a great extent
at present, however as bermudagrass cultivars with improved winter
hardiness become available, this species could become a valuable
forage in eastern Kansas and under irrigation in more western
sections of the state.
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Tall Fescue
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a cool-season
perennial grass introduced from Europe. Generally, tall fescue is
well adapted to the humid temperate areas of the United States and
the world. While tall fescue grows and performs best on good, moist
soils that are heavy to medium in texture, it exists and performs
relatively well on soils that vary from strongly acidic (pH 4.7) to
alkaline (pH 9.5). It thrives and conserves soils on thin, droughty
slopes, and forms dense sods on poorly drained soils where few other
cool-season grasses survive. The massive root structure of tall
fescue is generally credited for its adaptation to many varied soil
types. The roots of tall fescue decrease soil density, improve soil
structure, and firmly hold the soil reducing erosion.
Cattle grazing tall fescue occasionally will
exhibit physiological disorders, i.e. fescue toxicity or "fescue
foot", poor animal performance or "summer syndrome", and fat
necrosis. Extreme symptoms of fescue foot and fat necrosis are
easily distinguished, but it is not known if they are different
responses caused by the same agent(s), or an extension of the less
acute response of summer syndrome.
Summer syndrome is associated with the symptoms of
rough hair growth, reduced rate of gain and/or milk production,
rapid breathing, increased body temperature, and a general unthrifty
condition during the warmest grazing season, (July and August).
Summer syndrome is very seldom fatal; however, due to the large
number of cattle grazing tall fescue, summer syndrome has a much
greater economic impact than fescue foot or fat necrosis.
Use and Management:
Tall fescue is widely used for pasture, hay, turf,
and conservation purposes. Tall fescue occupies an estimated 30 to
35 million acres in pure and mixed stands within the United States
making it the predominant cool-season grass species.
Factors that govern the quality of tall fescue
forage include the age of the leaves, fertility of the soil, and the
season of the year. Quality is improved if the plants are kept
grazed closely, clipped to prevent accumulation of old leaves, and
properly fertilized or grown in association with a legume. Quality
is lowest during summer, intermediate in spring and highest during
the fall season.
Tall fescue is grazing tolerant and best animal
performance is achieved if grazing pressure is sufficiently heavy
enough to prevent the accumulation of older leaves. If cut for hay,
best quality is achieved before seed heads emerge.
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Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a
cool-season perennial grass that is native to Europe, temperate
Asia, and North Africa. It has been widely distributed to other
parts of the world, including North and South America, Europe, New
Zealand, and Australia. Both perennial and annual ryegrass are
important grasses in forage-livestock systems. Mixtures of the two
species sometimes are used to increase first season forage yields
while establishing a perennial grass stand.
Perennial ryegrass is valued for high yield
potential, fast establishment, reduced tillage renovation
applications, and use on heavy and waterlogged soils. Because of its
high quality, the primary use of perennial forage-type ryegrass in
the U.S. is for lactating dairy cows on pasture.
Use and Management:
Perennial ryegrass may be harvested for silage.
For the highest quality and yield of perennial ryegrass silage, it
should be cut in the early boot stage.
Perennial ryegrass, like other grasses, is well
suited to many different soil conservation practices. Its extensive,
shallow, fibrous root system makes it an effective species for
reducing surface soil erosion. Perennial ryegrass is recommended as
a fast starting component in mixtures, providing rapid cover and
then allowing longer-lived or more winter hardy species to become
established.
It also provides an excellent source of wildlife
feed for ducks, as well as wild turkeys, rabbits, deer and elk.
Quail and songbirds such as the white-crowned sparrow also use this
for nesting and feed.
Annual Ryegrass
Annual Rye (L. multiflorum) grass is one of the
most used seeds sold for lawn and pasture purposes and is sown all
over the world for planting on it's own and in mixtures too numerous
to mention. The adaptability of this cool season grass to many soils
and climates coupled with fast germination and prolific growing rate
make this grass an important factor in establishing thousands of
lawns and pastures in all but the hottest of zones.
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Smooth Brome
Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis), native to
Europe and Asia, is adapted to most temperate climates. Deeply
rooted, smooth bromegrass survives periods of drought and extremes
in temperature. During dry summer periods it becomes dormant until
the return of cooler temperatures and fall moisture. Best suited to
deep fertile soils of well-drained silt loam, smooth bromegrass can
never-the-less be utilized on a wide range of soil types. It is a
leafy, medium-tall growing, sod forming perennial grass. It spreads
underground by rhizomes and is readily propagated by seed.
Forage quality of smooth bromegrass is usually
superior to other cool-season grasses, i.e. tall fescue,
orchardgrass, timothy, etc. A disadvantage of bromegrass is its slow
recovery after cutting, which contributes toward slight regrowth and
poor seasonal distribution of yield. Regrowth is slow because
growing points are removed by cutting and consequently regrowth must
come from below ground nodes. In order to keep smooth bromegrass
productive year after year it must be skillfully managed,
particularly in the fall of the year. Close grazing of smooth brome
through the fall may result in thin, low vigor stands the following
spring. Properly managed, this superior grass will remain productive
for several generations of Kansas farmers.
Use and Management:
Smooth bromegrass is highly regarded for use as
irrigated and non-irrigated pasture, quality hay production, soil
conservation and critical area stabilization, and in grass-lined
waterway seedings.
New stands of smooth bromegrass should be
protected from grazing until the grass is well established.
Broadleaf weeds can be controlled with low rates of 2, 4-D after
grass seedlings have at least five or six leaves. The annual grasses
can be suppressed by mowing. Mow at a height of four to six inches
and do not remove more than three inches of smooth bromegrass
leaves.
Dense stands become sod-bound in three to five
years without a perennial legume in the stand or nitrogen
fertilizer. Maintenance of established stands is usually dependent
upon yearly application of fertilizer and adequate moisture. An
annual application of 90 to 100 pounds actual nitrogen in winter
with phosphate and potassium included as recommended by a soil test
is sufficient for hay or seed production.
Bromegrass is well suited to intensive grazing
systems in the spring of the year. Hay meadows should not be grazed
prior to cutting and only moderately in the fall. Good quality and
high forage yield will be achieved when smooth bromegrass is cut in
early bloom stage.
Orchardgrass
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), a native of
Europe, has been grown in North America for over 200 years. It has
spread through a large area of the United States, where it has
become a very important forage species. A cool-season perennial
grass, orchardgrass is utilized for hay and pasture. While
orchardgrass is more tolerant to heat than timothy or Kentucky
bluegrass, it is less so than tall fescue or smooth bromegrass. It
is shade tolerant and routinely found growing in areas where there
is reduced light, such as an orchard.
Soil requirements of orchardgrass are less
exacting than those of either timothy or smooth bromegrass.
Orchardgrass will persist on shallow, rather infertile soil and be
modestly productive. However, it responds well to fertilizer,
especially nitrogen, and becomes very competitive when nutrients are
available. At high rates of nitrogen fertilization, orchardgrass is
among the most productive of the cool-season grasses. Hay yields in
excess of four tons per acre can be expected when orchardgrass is
properly fertilized and growing conditions are favorable.
A high quality forage, orchardgrass, when in the
vegetative growth stage, approaches the feeding value of alfalfa. At
full bloom, orchardgrass possesses approximately half the
nutritional value of alfalfa.
Use and Management:
Orchardgrass is leafy, productive, and adapted to
a wide range of environmental conditions. Once established it will
survive many years if properly managed. It is well suited for
pasture, hay, greenchop and silage, and it can be utilized alone or
in combination with legumes.
Growth characteristics of orchardgrass make it
well adapted for early spring pasture and better suited to
rotational grazing rather than continuous grazing. When grazed
continuously, plants become severely weakened by the frequent
removal of leaf tissue.
Ladino clover is excellent for use in combination
with orchardgrass for pasture. The clover will provide nitrogen for
the grass, and if properly managed both species will coexist and
remain productive for a number of years.
Timothy Grass
Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) is a bunchgrass with
a shallow, fibrous root system. It is best adapted to the cool and
humid areas of the northeastern United States. Its usage in Kansas
is limited to the eastern most portion of the state, and has
steadily declined over the years to the point of only minor
importance. While smooth brome, tall fescue, and orchardgrass have
largely replaced timothy in Kansas, it still maintains popularity,
particularly for horse hay and pasture.
Timothy lacks the drought and heat tolerance
necessary to make it a long-lived perennial in Kansas. It thrives on
heavy, moisture retentive soils, however, it does not tolerate
water-logged soils as well as reed canarygrass, red top, or tall
fescue. Timothy is a relatively noncompetitive grass, and as such,
is excellent for use in combination with legumes. It increases yield
and adds ground cover to legume mixtures without depressing legume
yield or persistence.
Timothy is considered a very palatable grass, its
forage quality usually ranks higher than tall fescue, reed
canarygrass, or orchardgrass, and slightly lower than smooth
bromegrass. In a grass/legume hay mixture, timothy's late maturity
is considered an advantage as it is relatively young and tender at
harvest.
Use and Management:
Timothy is grown primarily for hay, and is also
routinely utilized in mixtures for pasture. Timothy is widely
renowned for its high quality and palatability, particularly in the
horse industry. Good quality and maximum forage yield is achieved if
cut at or before the onset of heading.
Timothy is a very desirable pasture species. A
mixture of four pounds of timothy and one pound ladino clover is an
excellent horse pasture mixture for eastern Kansas and Missouri. It
is best not to seed timothy in mixture with aggressive and/or
grazing tolerant grasses such as tall fescue. However, mixed stands
of timothy, red top and/or orchardgrass in combination with alfalfa,
birdsfoot trefoil or ladino clover can persist and remain productive
for a number of years.
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Red Top Grass
Red Top (Agrostis alba) is an introduced cool
season perennial grass found throughout Canada and the northern
U.S.A. It is a sod forming, rhizomatous species of medium height.
Red Top is a moisture loving species and requires
more than 20 inches of annual precipitation. It performs best on
clay or clay loam soils but will grow even on sandy sites. It has
very good tolerance of acidity and will grow well on soils with pH's
above 4.5. It cannot tolerate alkaline soils. Red Top also has a
very good tolerance of flooding. Red Top has poor tolerance to
drought and salinity.
Use and Management:
Red Top has good seedling vigor and will establish
fairly quickly. Its best reclamation use is on wetter sites which
have acidic soil conditions.
Its strongly rhizomatous nature makes Red Top a
good erosion control species. Red Top has fairly low palatability
which means it can provide cover for some nesting waterfowl.
Reed's Canarygrass
Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a tall,
wide-leafed, sod-forming, perennial cool-season grass. It spreads
underground by short, scaly rhizomes and forms a dense sod in
well-managed pure stands. Individual plants exhibit considerable
difference in agronomic characteristics, suggesting that there is
much potential for selection of improved cultivars.
The lack of palatability or of selection by
livestock when a choice is presented, is why this extraordinary
grass has not become a leading forage in its area of adaptation.
Reed canarygrass is one of the highest yielding perennial grasses
available for grazing or haying.
Especially well adapted to wet, marshy land; Reed
canarygrass is very tolerant of flooding. It will also grow on
upland soils and shows considerable resistance to drought. It
produces lush growth from early spring through summer, but produces
little growth in fall and winter.
Reed canarygrass develops a sod sufficiently firm
to support livestock even on wet land. Likewise, farm machinery is
supported on sod in areas that would be impassable before the
establishment of Reed canarygrass.
In Kansas, Reed canarygrass is best adapted to the
northern 1/3 of the state. However, it has been successfully
utilized throughout the state.
Use and Management:
Reed canarygrass is used for pasture, hay, silage,
and soil stabilization. For best quality pasture, allow Reed
canarygrass to reach a height of eight inches before stocking with
livestock and place heavy enough pressure on the grass to keep it
shorter than 30 inches. Rotational grazing with heavy pressure for
short periods, provides the best utilization of pasture.
Best quality hay will result if the first crop is
taken before heading. With adequate nitrogen and moisture three hay
crops per season may be obtained.
Reed canarygrass makes good quality and palatable
silage when harvested timely. Preservation of Reed canarygrass
silage is excellent, provided the crop is harvested by the early
heading stage and is finely chopped.
Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) probably originated in
southeast Africa. In Kansas bermudagrass has been successfully
utilized in about a twenty county area of southeast and east-central
Kansas. The western boundary is determined by inadequate moisture
and the northern boundary by temperature and winter-hardiness. The
release of the variety 'Guymon' by Oklahoma State University and the
USDA ARS could greatly alter the parameters of bermudagrass
production in Kansas. Guymon is winter-hardy even in the northern
most counties of Kansas. With the advent of varieties such as
Guymon, bermudagrass could become a major warm-season forage in
eastern Kansas.
Bermudagrass is a warm-season perennial,
sod-forming grass. It excels when temperatures approach 100 degrees
Fahrenheit. Bermudagrass will grow on any moderately well-drained
soil provided it has an adequate supply of moisture and plant
nutrients. Although it tolerates flooding for long periods of time,
it makes little or no growth on water-logged soils.
Bermudagrass is as excellent quality forage if it
is kept young and growing. The first cutting of hay may have a
protein content as high as 19%. Fertilized bermudagrass cut every 25
to 30 days usually averages 12% crude protein.
Use and Management:
Bermudagrass is a very desirable forage used
either for haying or grazing. Utilized in pure stands or in
combination with legumes, bermudagrass provides good quality forage
during the warm spring and summer months.
When managed for pasture it is important to
remember that forage quality deteriorates rapidly with maturity.
Continuous grazing results in spot or patchy grazing. Rotational,
intensive grazing is preferable. Ideally, bermudagrass should be
heavily grazed for ten days, then deferred for three weeks. If the
grass gets ahead of grazing livestock, cut it for hay. Do not let
bermudagrass mature.
When managing bermudagrass for hay production the
important considerations are proper fertilization and timely
cutting. Permitting the grass to grow longer than six weeks between
cuts lowers forage quality dramatically. Hay conditioners will
hasten curing so hay can usually be baled 24 hours after each
cutting. Nitrogen fertilizer (50 to 100 lbs./acre) should be applied
after each cutting through August to maintain forage yield and
protein content. Phosphate and potassium should be applied annually
with the first application of nitrogen as recommended by a soil
test.
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Rescue Grass
Rescue grass (Bromus catharticus) was introduced
from Argentina and South America in the early 1800s. It is a short
lived cool-season perennial bunchgrass that is found in warm / humid
areas of the US that have mild winters. In areas that have hot dry
summers and severe winter temperatures, it grows as an annual.
Most growth occurs in the fall through winter, maturing in spring.
Rescue grass is used for grazing and overseeding on short grass
pastures. Because it is a very palatable grass, it can be damaged by
close grazing.
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