Native Grasses
There are many grass species native to Kansas,
however, relatively few are of major economic importance. This
section will be limited to those grasses which have a major impact
on the Kansas livestock industry.
Many text books draw a line from north to south
through the center of Kansas and refer to the area east of the line
as the 'tall-grass region' and west of the line as the 'short-grass
region'. In truth, the transition from tall-grass to short-grass is
gradual, so much so, as to be almost imperceptible. For example,
buffalograss can be found in the easternmost parts of the state and
the tall-grasses appear even in the far western counties. While
abrupt changes can and do occur due to differences in soils and
precipitation, in Central Kansas often the reason certain grasses
dominate in a stand is more a function of management rather than a
line drawn on a map.
Maximum production from any grass is dependent
upon a working knowledge and understanding of the growth and
development of that grass. Management must be geared to favor the
key species in a grass stand in order to promote the persistence,
vigor, and productivity of that grass. On rangeland, this approach
to grassland management is critically important.
Cattle are selective grazers when a choice is
presented. They prefer some plants to others and will consume those
plants first.
Because the grazing animal is selective, unmanaged
grazing often results in stands dominated by grass species highly
tolerant to grazing or by grasses with poor palatability. Those most
preferred grasses are grazed continuously to the point where the
carbohydrate reserves are depleted and they are unable to replenish
themselves. Some of the most desirable species are the least
tolerant to grazing. The height the growing points reach during the
grazing season is highly correlated to grazing tolerance. Many
grasses (such as blue grama) maintain their growing points near the
soil surface until shortly before the onset of heading, while others
(like switchgrass) push their growing points up within reach of
grazing livestock relatively early in the growing season. If growing
points are removed, any new leaf material must come from dormant
buds at the base of the grass plants. This "re-growth" is powered by
carbohydrate reserves in the roots. Should these reserves become
depleted, obviously very little growth will occur.
There are a few tried and true management
principles regarding grazing of native grasses. First and foremost
is the principle of "controlled grazing". Controlled grazing refers
to the practice of leaving enough of the current years growth of the
key species within a grass stand to maintain them from one year to
the next in a healthy, vigorous state. Carbohydrate reserves stored
in the roots of perennial grasses serve as the energy source to
begin growth in the spring. If these reserves are depleted by
over-grazing in the previous year(s), the grass will be low in
vigor, less productive, more susceptible to other stresses, and in
extreme cases may die. However, if adequate leaf area is left at the
end of the grazing season, carbohydrate reserves will be adequate to
insure healthy, vigorous plants the following spring.
"Deferred grazing" is another management principle
employed by the serious grassland manager. Its purpose is to allow
the more desirable grasses to regain vigor and produce a seed crop.
A full season deferment is highly recommended during the first
growing season following brush-control measures, severe droughts, or
overgrazing.
An "Intensive Management" system involves placing
extremely heavy grazing pressure on the grass for relatively short
periods of time and then rotating livestock to another pasture and
allowing the first pasture to rest sufficiently long enough to
regain vigor. This practice favors maximum animal performance and
utilization of available forage. However, it does require more input
in the form of fencing, ponds or watering systems, and labor.
Intensive grazing is also often used to reduce
competition from undesirable grasses within the stand or those
invading the stand. For example, if tall fescue is invading a stand
of native grass, intensive grazing of the infested area in fall,
winter, and early spring with little of no pressure in late spring
and the summer months, along with timely burns, can substantially
slow and may even reverse the progression of the tall fescue.
Most of the warm-season native grasses are slowly
established. The year of establishment usually results in very
little top growth. Instead, all energies are devoted to establishing
a root system. A common cause of stand failure is competition during
the seedling year from weeds. It is very important to control weeds
the year before attempting to establish native grasses. There are a
few herbicides available for use on native seedings. However, at
this time they are all broadleaf herbicides with little or no
activity on the troublesome annual grasses. There are herbicides
that show great promise in alleviating the annual grass problem.
However, to date the chemical companies have demonstrated a great
reluctance to adding range plantings to their label.
When either purchasing or selling native grass
seed, one should always deal on a pure-live seed (PLS) basis.
Pure-live seed is arrived from the following formula:
% Germination x % Pure Seed = % PLS
100
Example: Lot #001 Kaw Big Bluestem
60% Pure Seed, 80% Germination
60 x 80 = 48% PLS
100
In other words, in 100 lbs. of this seed lot there are 48 lbs. of
actual viable seed.
The warm season native grasses are very chaffy and
extremely difficult to harvest and clean. Individual seed lots vary
greatly in % PLS. By dealing on a PLS basis, both purchaser and
seller are aware of the quality of a particular seed lot and both
are able to make intelligent decisions on price and quantity needed
to achieve desired stands.
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Big Bluestem
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) 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.
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Little Bluestem
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is
a long-lived perennial warm-season native grass. A bunch grass with
or without rhizomes, little bluestem grows to a height of two to
four feet. Widely adapted, it can be found in every county in
Kansas.
An excellent quality forage in early stages of
development, little bluestem loses palatability and quality as
maturity approaches. It is more drought tolerant than other grasses
associated with the tall-grass complex i.e. big bluestem,
indiangrass, switchgrass, etc., and persists longer under heavy
grazing pressure on loamy to clay textured soils in drier climates.
Use and Management:
Primary usage of little bluestem is for hay and
pasture and game bird cover. It is also an excellent conservation
grass. Because of its growth habit and wide range of adaptability to
climate and soil types, little bluestem has great merit for use in
water channels, reclamation of mined lands, and erosion control.
To maintain plant vigor, no more than 50% of the
current years growth should be grazed off. Grazing should be
deferred or grazing pressure reduced substantially for 90 days every
two to three years before seed maturity to allow the grass to regain
vigor and produce seed.
If cut for hay, a four inch stubble should be left
to promote recovery. The hay crop should be taken toward the end of
July or the first of August to achieve best quality.
Indiangrass
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) is a major range
grass species in the eastern one-half of Kansas. It is widely
distributed throughout the United States east of the Rocky
Mountains. Indiangrass is a tall vigorous bunch grass with wide
leaves and a striking bronze or yellow plume-like seed head.
Indiangrass forms rhizomes from which four to six feet tall stalks
arise. The species is highly regarded as an excellent quality forage
utilized for pasture or hay. Indiangrass, of all the tall
warm-season native grasses, has the greatest potential to be
utilized east of the Great Plains states.
Indiangrass thrives on deep, moist soil varying
from heavy clays to coarse sands. It tolerates moderate soil acidity
and moderate salinity. While tolerant to flooding, it is perhaps the
least tolerant of the warm-season native grasses to drought.
Use and Management:
Indiangrass is an excellent quality forage used
either for grazing or haying. It is also routinely utilized for
erosion control, game-bird cover, and grass-lined water channels.
Indiangrass can tolerate close grazing much better
than the other grasses of the tall-grass complex, and responds well
to fertilization under irrigated or high rainfall conditions. For
these reasons, indiangrass is often planted and managed in pure
stands. In an intensive grazing study conducted in Bourbon County,
Kansas, steers grazing pure indiangrass averaged daily gains of
nearly 3 lbs. from mid-June through mid-September. (Bourbon Co. SCS
1984).
While indiangrass is grazing tolerant, it
never-the-less is one of the first species to go if grasslands are
mismanaged. Because indiangrass remains palatable for the entire
growing season, livestock tend to search it out and consume it in
preference to other grasses in the association. On sites that have a
high percentage of indiangrass in the plant community, it is the key
management species. On less productive sites, its presence indicates
that the range is in good to excellent condition.
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Sideoats Grama
Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) is a
warm-season native perennial grass. It possesses an extensive
fibrous root system. It is very winter hardy and drought resistant
and is adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Most
commonly found in mixture with blue grama, buffalograss, and little
bluestem; it predominates in this association on shallow soils,
steeply sloping lands, deep sand and exposed sites.
Sideoats grama is prized for wildlife plantings
and is an exceptional conservation grass. Seedling vigor is
excellent compared to other warm-season native grasses and
establishment is relatively easy.
Growth begins in mid-Spring and maturity is
reached in late July or early August. Plant height at maturity is
approximately three feet. Sideoats grama produces a leafy forage
that is palatable to all classes of livestock. Good quality hay may
be produced if cut timely.
Use and Management:
Native stands are most often utilized for pasture
and less commonly for hay. Because of its wide adaptability, rapid
establishment and deep extensive root system, sideoats grama is an
excellent conservation grass. It is routinely used on eroding and
disturbed sites and grass-lined water channels. Sideoats grama is
also prized for wildlife seedings. The seeds are relished by
songbirds and small mammals use it for cover and food.
Sideoats grama responds well to rotational
deferred grazing systems. These management systems allow the most
efficient and effective utilization of available forage. For stand
maintenance and productivity, sideoats grama should be allowed to
mature seed every two to three years.
Blue Grama
Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a warm-season
native perennial grass found throughout the short-grass region from
Texas to Canada and is also important in parts of the desert
grasslands. Blue grama is usually found in association with
buffalograss and in the northern area of its adaptation with the
wheatgrasses. In the more southern areas, blue grama can and often
does occur in near pure stands.
A typical short-grass, blue grama seldom grows
taller than 12 to 20 inches. In semi-arid areas, blue grama is often
utilized as a turf grass. It forms a dense sod and its narrow leaves
can make an attractive lawn. For turf, blue grama is usually seeded
in mixture with buffalograss. A mixture of one part buffalograss to
two parts of blue grama produces an extremely drought tolerant and
low maintenance turf.
Adapted to a wide range of soils and climate, blue
grama produces a highly nutritious forage during the summer months.
Forage remaining in the fall makes good winter pasture if allowed to
cure standing. Tolerant to alkaline soils, blue grama is the most
drought tolerant of the major grasses on the Great Plains.
Use and Management:
Adapted to a wide range of soil types, blue grama
is used in range seedings, conservation plantings, wildlife habitat
plantings, roadsides, and as a turf grass in semi-arid regions of
the Great Plains.
Native stands are most often utilized for range
and pasture. It produces an excellent quality forage and with the
exception of buffalograss, it's the most grazing tolerant grass on
the Great Plains.
Blue grama is routinely used for revegetating
abandoned croplands and disturbed areas. Birds relish the seeds and
small mammals consume seed heads and plants.
Since growing points are at or near the soil
surface for most of the season, blue grama tolerates close grazing.
For best performance, defer grazing every two to three years during
the growing season and graze no more than 50% of the current years
growth by weight.
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Switchgrass
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a vigorous
perennial warm-season, sod-forming grass. It generally grows in
association with the bluestems throughout the tall-grass region.
The switchgrasses can be divided into two groups,
bottom-land and upland types. Bottom-land types, i.e. 'Kanlow' occur
in river bottom areas. They are taller, more robust and have a bunch
type growth habit. Upland types are generally shorter and finer,
have longer rhizomes that produce a spreading but open sod. Upland
types, i.e. 'Blackwell', 'Pathfinder', etc., are usually four to
five feet tall.
Switchgrass begins growth in mid to late spring
and matures in mid to late summer. It is highly palatable to all
classes of livestock until the onset of heading at which time
quality rapidly decreases.
Use and Management:
Switchgrass is used in both pure and mixed stands
for grazing and hay, wildlife food and cover, as well as for
grass-lined water channels and erosion control.
Switchgrass responds to proper grazing use and
periodic deferments of 100 days at any point in the growing season.
For maximum production of good quality hay, meadows should not be
grazed in early spring and hay crops should be harvested at or
before the onset of heading. Hay meadows can be grazed moderately in
late fall.
Western Wheatgrass
Agropoyron smithii Western wheatgrass is a cool-season native
perennial sod-forming grass. It has a deep fibrous root system with
vigorous rhizomes that effectively protect the soil from wind and
water erosion. It is a major rangeland species in the northern and
central Great Plains. Western wheatgrass is widely adapted to
varying soil and climatic conditions. Where soil is favorable and
moisture plentiful, western wheatgrass may be found in nearly pure
stands. On upland sites it is commonly found in association with the
grama grasses.
Western wheatgrass starts growth early in the spring and produces a
high protein forage relished by all classes of livestock. Plants at
maturity attain a height of two to three feet. This grass goes
dormant during the hot/dry months, but makes further growth in early
fall. Established stands of western wheatgrass can endure long
periods of severe drought, tolerate flooding, soil salinity, poor
drainage, and withstand heavy grazing pressure.
Use and Management:
Widely used for pasture and hay, western wheatgrass is also an
excellent grass for erosion control, critical area stabilization,
grass-lined water channels, and surface mine reclamation.
Well suited to intensive grazing systems, western wheatgrass
provides high quality forage when the warm-season natives are at
their worst. For maximum production on rangeland, defer grazing
every few years at least 90 days before seed heads exert. Protect
this grass from grazing throughout the growing season if it is
managed for seed harvest or hay. Graze only moderately during the
dormant period.
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Intermediate Wheatgrass
Intermediate Wheatgrass is an important cool
season, sod forming grass that was introduced into the U. S. from
the U.S.S.R. It is easily established from seed and covers well the
first year after planting.
Intermediate Wheatgrass is used for pasture and
hay in areas which receive more than 15 inches of precipitation. It
has been known to grow well at altitudes up to 10,000 feet.
Use and Management:
Intermediate Wheatgrass grows best in finer
textured, sany loam to clay loam soil types. It has fair drought,
salt, high water table and flooding tolerance. With its extensive
root system, it is often used to stabilize soil and also for
wildlife plantings.
Tall Wheatgrass
Tall Wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum) is an
introduced wheatgrass, brought into the United States from Turkey
and the U.S.S.R. It is a tall, vigorous, cool-season, bunchgrass
that is the latest maturing grass adapted to the continental
climatic areas of the Western United States. Tall Wheatgrass is
especially tolerant of saline and alkali soils and high yields are
obtained even to elevations of 7,500 feet. Plants mature late in the
season, producing a large seed that is easily planted. On strong
alkali or under drought conditions, leaves become a darker
blue-green, but with adequate moisture and fertility, growth will
begin early and continue into the late summer.
Use and Management:
On saline soils, saltgrass should be eliminated,
good drainage provided. and the salts leached or flushed off. Stands
are best established in good seedbeds with a deep furrow drill in
early spring. The seedlings are slow to establish and light
irrigation at 2 to 3 day intervals in the furrows is required until
seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall. With surface irrigation, salts
from the soil accumulate on the ridges, allowing the seeds in the
bottom of the furrow to sprout and grow. Continuous irrigation
reduces salt concentration. Planting without irrigation is possible
if adequate precipitation occurs. On less salty soils, Tall
Wheatgrass is often planted with alfalfa in alternate rows.
Seedlings require one full season of protection
before grazing use, two seasons on dry sites. Tall wheatgrass fields
should be fenced from other fields to get good utilization. When
more palatable species are available, Tall Wheatgrass will only be
sparsely utilized. When new growth is 8 to 10 inches high, spring
grazing can begin. When plants start to head, pastures should be
clipped back to an 8 inch stubble.
Tall Wheatgrass production will drop rapidly from
year to year unless a high level of soil nitrogen is present. The
usual rate is 40 to 80 pounds/acre as determined by a soil test.
Nitrogen additions will greatly increase production and the amount
of cover.
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Eastern Gamagrass
Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is a
stout, native perennial grass grown from Oklahoma and the Texas
panhandle to the east coast. This grass was once abundant on
hundreds of thousands of acres but is now common only in areas
protected from grazing because of its high palatability to
livestock. With robust stems and strong rhizomes, this grass will
reach heights of 3 to 8 feet. It grows in fertile bottomland, swamps
and along streambanks and, under good management, can be found in
upland areas as well.
This grass has good forage value for livestock. It
also provides excellent cover and nesting area for wildlife. Eastern
gamagrass has a long inflorescence with large seeds that are used by
numerous species of birds and small mammals for food.
Use and Management:
Eastern Gamagrass provides excellent forage for
grazing and haying. Gamagrass is so palatable to livestock that
careful controlled grazing practices must be followed to keep cattle
from destroying the stand. Short duration, high intensity rotation
programs that give Gamagrass a 28-42 day rest period work best and
still maintain plant vigor.
Gamagrass will produce forage yields of 8-10 tons
of dry matter per acre. It does require plenty of water to produce
maximum yields. Eastern Gamagrass flourishes where precipitation
exceeds 35 inches, does respectable in regions of 25 inches annual
precipitation and does very well under irrigation.
Buffalograss
Buchloe dactyloides Buffalograss is a deeply
rooted native perennial grass, important in the short-grass region
from Texas to South Dakota. It is found primarily on soils with
fairly high clay content and does not perform well on sandy soils.
This grass spreads rapidly by means of surface runners and forms a
dense, matted growth five to eight inches tall. Buffalograss is
predominantly dioecious (individual plants are either male or
female), with male and female plants occurring in nearly equal
frequency.
Growth begins in mid-Spring and continues all
summer. The forage is highly palatable to all classes of livestock.
Buffalograss is fairly easy to establish and spreads vigorously
under grazing pressure. It withstands prolonged heavy grazing better
than any other grass native to the plains states. In fact, in
western Kansas on range heavily grazed every year, it commonly
survives as a nearly pure stand.
Use and Management:
Buffalograss is widely used in the short-grass
region for pasture and erosion control. It is also utilized for turf
in semi-arid regions.
Buffalograss withstands heavy grazing and is
ideally suited to intensive grazing systems. It has an excellent
reputation as cured winter feed. Livestock usually harvest less than
50% of the current years growth because this grass grows so close to
the ground. However, continuous close grazing can result in weakened
plants and reduce the next seasons production.
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Canadian Wildrye
Elymus canadensis Canada Wildrye is a robust, cool
season bunchgrass that is native to the United States. Growth of
this plant will range from 2 to 4 feet in height. Canada Wildrye
forms seed stalks that will be 3 to 5 feet in height and bluish
green in color. Because it is a cool season plant, Canada Wildrye
will begin its growth in the fall and continue to grow until the
temperatures are consistently below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is not true in areas of the northern United
States, where growth can continue even when temperatures drop into
the low 20-degree range. Growth will resume in early spring and
continue into summer if moisture conditions are favorable. Where
found, Canada Wildrye grows fairly abundantly. It is found in open
sunny areas, but also thrives in shaded areas along timber borders
and in the damper areas of the bottomlands.
Use and Management:
In the past ten years, use of Canada Wildrye has
expanded. It is now considered a desirable component of
re-established prairies, native wildlife habitat and areas prone to
excess moisture.
Establishment of Canada Wildrye is relatively
rapid but it may take a year before weeds are crowded out. The first
good seed crop should be expected the second year after planting.
The grass will continue to do well for about two - four years and
then will gradually decline, to 7 - 10 years eventually disappear.
When planted as a wildlife-planting component, re-seeding from
existing plants should insure new growth for a long period.
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