Uses of Switch Grass
- (1) Switchgrass serves as a soil conserver, it is generally used in the control of erosion.
- (2) They can be used as forage by farmers who are into cattle rearing for pasture. ...
- (3) The switchgrass seedlings is also grown to be used as a substrate for growing mushrooms, also as bedding for livestock and straw blade housing.
What is switchgrass?
Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) is one of many warm-season perennial grasses native to North America. It is a natural component of the tallgrass prairie, which covered most of the Great Plains. It is also found on prairie soils from the southeastern U.S., westward to the Rocky Mountains, as far south as Mexico, and northward into Canada.
Is switchgrass good for hay?
As forage, Switchgrass provides excellent feed for livestock and other animals. With proper management a Switchgrass pasture can produce between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds of forage per acre or higher. Research in Tennessee has shown that, if grown exclusively for hay, 4-5 tons per acre are not uncommon.
What makes switchgrass high-yield?
High switchgrass yields have been recorded when the grass was grown under good conditions. These good conditions include a relatively deep soil with a pH level near neutral that can supply the nutrients needed for growth.
Can switchgrass be used as a bioenergy feedstock?
Development of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States. Biomass and Bioenergy 28:515-535. Mitchell, R.B., K.P. Vogel, and G. Sarath. 2008. Managing and enhancing switchgrass as a bioenergy feedstock.
What is switchgrass good for?
Wildlife: Switchgrass provides excellent nesting and fall and winter cover for pheasants, quail, and rabbits. It holds up well in heavy snow (particularly 'Shelter' and 'Kanlow' cultivars) and is useful on shooting preserves. The seeds provide food for pheasants, quail, turkeys, doves, and songbirds.
What animal eats switchgrass?
It makes great wildlife habitat, especially for upland game bird species such as pheasant, quail, grouse, and wild turkey which feed on the abundant seed produced by the Switchgrass.
Is switchgrass good for cattle?
If cut for hay, switchgrass is very palatable and nutritious before or just as seedheads appear. It makes excellent hay for weaning calves or growing young stock. But as with grazing, as plants become mature and stemmy, switchgrass hay becomes less desirable and may need to be ground in order to be used effectively.
What is unique about switchgrass?
Switchgrass is a perennial warm-season grass. This means it possesses mechanisms that allow it to tolerate cold temperatures during winter as dormant plants, but needs warm temperatures for growth.
Is switchgrass poisonous?
The toxic element contained in the switchgrass is a naturally occurring steroid known as a sapogenin. This compound is the instigator of both the digestive upset that the patient experiences and the dermal reaction from the sap.
Will deer eat switch grass?
Deer-resistant grasses for partly shady areas include fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides), which is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, as well as the slightly cold-hardier pink muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) and switch grass (Panicum virgatum), also called panic grass.
How long does switch grass last?
So, as a fall back option, it is a good idea to burn your switchgrass stand every 3 to 4 years. If you're growing a larger stand for upland game bird habitat, we recommend sectioning your stand into thirds and burning each third every year (so you basically burn each section every three years).
Does switchgrass come back every year?
Switchgrass may die back in winter but the rhizome will remain alive underground, especially if the plants are mulched. You can divide the plant every few years to produce new plants. For the best appearance, the plant should be sheared back to within a few inches (8 cm.)
How long does it take to grow switchgrass to maturity?
Planting Date and Methods When soil moisture and temperatures are good, average emergence will be 10-21 days after planting. Planting methods include drilling or broadcasting into either tilled or no-tilled seedbeds. Drilling involves planting in rows using either a conventional or no-till drill.
Is switchgrass toxic to dogs?
Switchgrass and tall fescue are less likely to be poisonous to dogs, cats or humans than to horses or cattle, but eating either of them might cause stomach upset.
Should switch grass be cut back?
If these grasses are not trimmed until late winter, make sure to cut them back to the ground before new growth begins. Pennisetum (Fountain Grass), Miscanthus and Panicum (Switch Grass) are in this category. Cut back cool season grasses in very early spring, but leave about one-third of the plant in place.
Does switch grass spread?
Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available. It grows 3 to 6 feet in small to large sodded clumps that spread slowly from numerous scaly creeping rhizomes.
Can horses eat switchgrass?
Switchgrass can cause serious health problems for horses. It contains chemical compounds called saponins. These compounds can cause severe reactions in horses, including photosensitization, destruction of red blood cells and liver disease, which eventually can lead to death of the horse.
What type of animal eats grass?
Horses, cattle, geese, guinea pigs, hippopotamuses, capybara and giant pandas are examples of vertebrate graminivores. Some carnivorous vertebrates, such as dogs and cats, are known to eat grass occasionally.
What does grass get eaten by?
Many animals eat grass as their main source of food, including cows, grasshoppers, rabbits, deer, sheep, horses, goats, bison, buffalos, zebras, kangaroos, and many others. The list is very long. Basically, all the animals that belong to the family of grass-eating mammals are called “grazers”.
What farm animal eats grass?
Grass makes up a large part of the diet of ruminants like cattle, sheep, goats, deer, elk and llamas as well as other herbivores such as horses.
Why is switchgrass used in landscapes?
It’s especially useful in water-wise landscapes due to its low water needs and drought-tolerant qualities.
Where is switchgrass native to?
Switchgrass is a perennial native grass found predominantly throughout the Great Plains region of the United States, but is highly adaptable to many other climates and soil types. From Canada to the Gulf Coast, to everywhere in between, Switchgrass doesn’t seem to mind. Because it’s a warm-season type grass, it’s very drought tolerant ...
How much hay can switchgrass produce?
With proper management a Switchgrass pasture can produce between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds of forage per acre or higher. Research in Tennessee has shown that, if grown exclusively for hay, 4-5 tons per acre are not uncommon. It’s also very appealing to sustainability-minded farmers and ranchers because it can be planted using no-till seeding methods which conserve soil, require less time and fuel, and won’t plow up and expose rocks. Have land that is considered unsuitable for row crop production due to sand or gravel? Switchgrass will thrive there.
What grass did George Bush mention in his speech?
During a 2006 State of the Union Address, George Bush mentioned a grass known as Switchgrass in his speech. At the time, he was discussing the funding of cutting-edge research into biofuels, with a particular mention of Switchgrass.
How tall does switchgrass grow?
It can grow up to nine feet tall and produces a dense, fibrous root system that grows as deep as the plant is tall. When it comes to producing biomass, Switchgrass is a powerhouse. Coupled together, these attributes make Switchgrass very appealing for use in many applications.
Does corn produce more energy than switchgrass?
Corn on the other hand produces just 25 percent more energy. Not only is there a huge amount of energy produced from processing Switchgrass into biofuel, but because it’s not a food crop for humans it doesn’t affect food supplies and costs.
Is switchgrass a biofuel?
But the major area of interest in Switchgrass, and the point that George Bush was trying to make in his State of the Union Address, has to do with its potential as a biofuel. Because of the enormous amount of biomass produced by the Switchgrass plant and its ability to grow just about anywhere using low amounts of input, Switchgrass has shown to be a more efficient biofuel source when compared to corn. In fact, according to a study by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540 percent more energy than needed to grow, harvest and process it into ethanol. Corn on the other hand produces just 25 percent more energy. Not only is there a huge amount of energy produced from processing Switchgrass into biofuel, but because it’s not a food crop for humans it doesn’t affect food supplies and costs. The future looks very bright for Switchgrass and its place in powering our world.
What is switchgrass used for?
One fascinating fact about switchgrass plants is that it can be used as feed for animals and also can be used in biomass energy production.
Where does switchgrass grow?
Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) is a warm-season perennial forage-producing grass native to North America. It belongs to the Poaceae family of grasses in the order of Poales, and the kingdom Plantae of grass.
What color are switchgrass seeds?
The flowers of this monocot are said to have a well-developed panicle and when this grass gets ripe, the switchgrass seeds sometimes take on a pink or dull-purple tinge.
Why do farmers use grass?
Over the years, farmers have been employing the use of this grass on their farmlands, just to renew and conserve the soils on their farmlands.
Is switchgrass a monocotyledon?
Switchgrass is a monocotyledonous plant and is one of the most dominant species of the American tallgrass prairie.
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Is switchgrass a bioenergy crop?
According to research, the switchgrass has been termed a “renewable bioenergy crop” because it is a warm-season grass with the ability to procreate moderate to high yields on marginal farmlands.
What is switchgrass?
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a native grass of the United States and is widely adapted to prairie soils, open woods, brackish marshes, and pinewoods openings [23]. Two varieties of switchgrass have been classified as lowland: “Alamo” and “Kanlow.” Upland varieties include “Caddo,” “Cave-in-Rock,” “Shawnee,” and “Blackwell.” These varieties fit into the I-20 Corridor and the I-30 Corridor. Lowland types are best adapted to flood plains and areas of inundation; whereas, upland types occur in areas that are not subject to flooding [24,25].
How long can switchgrass be stored in the refrigerator?
For this purpose they are soaked and then stored in a cool place for 24 h to drain. Afterward they are kept in a refrigerator at about 3.5–5.5 °C for 4 weeks. Switchgrass can be sewn in a conventional seedbed or no-till seeding methods can be used. The seeds (9–11 kg ha −1) can be broadcast or drilled in rows.
Why is it important to reduce the number of leaves in a biomass plant?
As leaves are rich in ash and substances such as N, K, and Cl, which are unfavorable for the combustion or biomass conversion processes, a reduction in the number of leaves improves the quality of the harvested biomass for burning.
What type of grass is best adapted to flood plains and areas of inundation?
Lowland types are best adapted to flood plains and areas of inundation; whereas, upland types occur in areas that are not subject to flooding [24,25]. Switchgrass can be used for pasture or hay in the I-20 Corridor.
How to propagate reed canary grass?
There are various options for the propagation of PRG. Switchgrass and reed canary grass can be established via seeds, the establishment method with the lowest costs. Because switchgrass seeds often have a high degree of dormancy, they need to be treated before sowing to promote germination. For this purpose they are soaked and then stored in a cool place for 24 h to drain. Afterward they are kept in a refrigerator at about 3.5–5.5 °C for 4 weeks. Switchgrass can be sewn in a conventional seedbed or no-till seeding methods can be used. The seeds (9–11 kg ha −1) can be broadcast or drilled in rows. A row spacing of 80 cm is recommended. Best stands of reed canary grass are obtained when seeds are sown no deeper than 1–2 cm in a well-prepared, firm seedbed. A row spacing of 12.5 cm and seeding rate of 15–20 kg ha −1 is recommended.
When is biomass harvested from perennial grasses?
The lignocellulosic biomass from perennial grasses is harvested after senescence to give dry biomass. The most suitable harvest date depends on the weather conditions and is ideally when the biomass has a moisture content of less than 20%. Delayed harvest decreases biomass yields by about 30% relative to peak yield in autumn, mainly due to leaf abscission. As leaves are rich in ash and substances such as N, K, and Cl, which are unfavorable for the combustion or biomass conversion processes, a reduction in the number of leaves improves the quality of the harvested biomass for burning. This improvement is also enhanced by the leaching of water-soluble substances, such as Cl, by precipitation in winter.
Is switchgrass a biomass crop?
Switchgrass is one of three dominant native grasses found in North American and has potential as a biomass crop even in areas with a short growing season. From: Biosystems Engineering, 2011. Download as PDF. About this page.
What is switchgrass?
Mature plant: Switchgrass is a bunchgrass that produces extensive rhizomes, and is most aggressive in moist soil. Leaf sheaths are hairy at the margins.
What is Cornell University's turfgrass and landscape weed ID app?
Cornell University’s Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID app. Identification and control options for weeds common to turf, agriculture, and gardens in New York; uses a very simple decision tree to identify your weed.
Can you use herbicide on monocots?
An herbicide for monocots or grasses can be used as a last course of action. Use CCE of Eastern NY Horticulture’s herbicide lookup tool to find efficacy of various herbicides on other Panicum species (witchgrass and fall panicum) and other perennial grasses (Johnsongrass, quackgrass, perennial ryegrass and wirestem muhly). For general guidance on weed control, get the latest edition of the Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines.
Is switchgrass a biofuel?
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a perennial and drought tolerant grass species. This grass is used as a biomass (biofuel) crop, but it is increasingly becoming a problem in late sweet corn systems as a harvest impediment in NYS.
What is switchgrass used for?
With its spreading rhizomatous roots and clump-forming habit, switchgrass is ideal for use on sloped areas prone to erosion. It's also used for adding height and contrasting interest in perennial borders, as a seasonal screen, for growing en masse in wild meadow gardens, or around the edges of ponds. The flower stalks are also popular for use in dried flower arrangements.
How to propagate switchgrass?
Switchgrass can easily be propagated through the division of clumps. It's best to do this in the spring as they need warm soil to establish. Division is recommended every few years anyway, as the center of the clumps can begin to die out, and this will help to boost their vigor.
How tall does a switchgrass plant grow?
Some of the most popular or unique include: ‘Blue Tower’ – a very tall cultivar, with distinct bluey-green foliage, that can grow to reach 8 feet in height. ‘Dallas Blues’ – with wider leaves than most switchgrass varieties it forms in very dense clumps.
What is a flower stalk used for?
Its also used for adding height and contrasting interest in perennial borders, as a seasonal screen, or for growing en-masse in wild meadow gardens or around the edges of ponds. The flower stalks are also popular for use in dried flower arrangements.
Can switchgrass be fertilized?
Once established, rhizomatous switchgrass rarely needs additional feeding with a fertilizer. Too many nutrients can cause the grass stalks to droop.
Is switchgrass low maintenance?
Although switch grass benefits from plenty of sun, it can adapt to a wide range of temperatures and soil conditions and is very low-maintenance. It's also resistant to disease and not bothered by pests.
Can ornamental grass handle drought?
This adaptable and hardy grass can handle drought, boggy conditions, and a wide variety of soil types. Some ornamental cultivars, however, can be more sensitive to their environments than others, so it's important to double-check before planting.
How much weight do switchgrass grazes gain?
Switchgrass quality is high and its palatability is good when young. Yearlings often gain 1.5 to 2 lbs per day during this time. After seedheads emerge, though, nutrient levels decline rapidly and animals refuse to eat much of it.
Is switchgrass good for cattle?
If cut for hay, switchgrass is very palatable and nutritious before or just as seedheads appear. It makes excellent hay for weaning calves or growing young stock. But as with grazing, as plants become mature and stemmy, switchgrass hay becomes less desirable and may need to be ground in order to be used effectively. If cattle can't graze it before seedheads appear, it should be cut for hay rather than used as a poor quality forage.
Why is switchgrass important?
Recently, significant attention has been given to switchgrass as a model perennial grass for bioenergy production to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, boost our rural economies, reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce erosion on marginal cropland, and enhance wildlife habitat.
What is switchgrass?
Photo: Dennis Pennington. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native warm-season grass that is a leading biomass crop in the United States.
How successful is a switchgrass stand?
Acceptable switchgrass production can be delayed by one or more years by weed competition and poor stand establishment (Schmer et al., 2006). Vogel and Masters (2001) reported a stand frequency of 50% or greater (two or more switchgrass plants per square foot) indicated a successful stand, whereas stand frequency from 25 to 50% was marginal to adequate, and stands with less than 25% frequency indicated a partial stand. In a study conducted on 12 farms in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, switchgrass fields with a stand frequency of 40% or greater provided a successful stand (Schmer et al., 2006).
How long does switchgrass need to be stored?
Switchgrass grown for use in a biorefinery may have to be stored for a full year or longer since biorefineries will operate 365 days a year.
What is CenUSA resource?
CenUSA Resources – Sustainable Production and Distribution of Bioenergy for the Central USA . Includes fact sheets and media resources on switchgrass development, production, logistics, harvesting, etc.
What are the factors that influence switchgrass yield?
Switchgrass yield is strongly influenced by precipitation, fertility, soil, location, genetics, and other factors. Most plot and field-scale switchgrass research has been conducted on forage-type cultivars selected for other livestock-based characteristics in addition to yield.
How deep is switchgrass?
Root depth of established switchgrass may reach 10 feet, but most of the root mass is in the top 12 inches of the soil profile. In addition to potential bioenergy production, switchgrass uses include pasture and hay production, soil and water conservation, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat.
What is switchgrass?
Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum. Providing adequate cover next to food sources is crucial in attracting and holding wildlife on your property. Switchgrass offers excellent winter cover, even in high snow and wind conditions for all wildlife. It also can act as a screening cover to allow you to access and leave your hunting stand locations.
Where does Blackwell switchgrass grow?
Blackwell: Blackwell switchgrass is adapted to grow well in the south-central and eastern states. Compared to other switchgrass cultivars, Blackwell possessed high leafiness, total forage, and disease resistance.
Is Forestburg a drought tolerant soil?
Forestburg is tolerant to drought, saline, and alkaline soils. Sunburst: Sunburst is similar to Forestburg in performance and adaptions. Compared to Dacotah, Sunburst is late maturing, and both are suitable for haying and grazing in Minnesota and South Dakota.
Is Dacotah a switchgrass?
Dacotah grows shorter with thi nner leaves and stems and matures earlier when compared to other switchgrass cultivars. Forestburg: Adapted for primarily North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa regions. Forestburg is tolerant to drought, saline, and alkaline soils.
What is switchgrass used for?
Easy to grow and fast to establish, switchgrass can be used to either hide wildlife within the grass itself, or to effectively screen daytime browse sources and early successional growth within pockets of hidden habitat diversity.
Why Use Switchgrass For Wildlife Cover?
A client parcel visit last Winter in SE MN really hammered home the point again, that if your field of wildlife grass is laying flat in January, it is providing absolutely for the local wildlife population. Great cover in the Summer that is gone in the late Fall and Winter, is not great cover. Can you imagine a wildlife population that could somehow be built during the Summer months because of that cover, only to be left without any of that cover during the time of the year when they need it the most? That's why on many CRP fields and pheasant plantings, pheasant are re-introduced nearly every season because the cover that has been planted is not sufficient to create a sustainable pheasant population. The same concept applies to rabbits, deer and any other critter that needs that cover during the Fall and Winter months, to survive. However, switchgrass, is not like any other grass!
How long does it take for switchgrass to grow?
Switchgrass is one of the easiest forms of wildlife cover to plant and if planted correctly, switchgrass can be fully established after only 2 Summers of growth! Learning how to plant switchgrass by either frost seeding or using a no till drill, will offer you 2 sure-fire ways to establish a deer and small game habitat magnet.
When is switchgrass best for wildlife?
When heavy snows and high winds begin pounding the landscape during the late Fall, switchgrass will always be the last grass standing. Pure switchgrass is one of the greatest assets to a wildlife and whitetail habitat enthusiasts. Easy to grow and fast to establish, switchgrass can be used to either hide wildlife within the grass itself, or to effectively screen daytime browse sources and early successional growth within pockets of hidden habitat diversity. And the best part about switchgrass? When all other grasses has been crushed by the weight of a harsh Northern Winter, switchgrass can still be standing strong and supporting sustainable wildlife populations all year long.
When does switchgrass germinate?
You need to be patient, because your switchgrass will not germinate until the soil temperature is in the mid to upper 50s, which is right at the same time as corn, or slightly after. There have been times that my switch was only 2" high during the last 10 days of June, but then approached 4' by late September.
When to spray switchgrass?
If you still have a few weeds showing prior to your switchgrass emerging, a 2nd spraying of glyphosate can be appropriate during the 2nd or 3rd week of May. Of course if your switchgrass has emerged and you spray glyphosate on it, it will kill it - so use some caution if you spray in mid to late May!
Can you use a no till drill to cut through dead thatch?
The beauty of a no till drill is that you can use the drill to cut through dead thatch (and even live growth), to drop the tiny switchgrass seeds into exposed soil cuts, at the desired depth of just under the surface. No plowing, discing or tilling needs to take place and in fact, it is actually preferred when using our Genesis 3 model, that the dead thatch and debris is still in place. Firm, dry soil is also acceptable.
