Monday, 19 June 2006 - 1:00 PM

Irrigated Warm-season and Cool-season Grass Seed Production on the High Plains.

Eric Nielsen, James Margheim, Glen Frickel, Becky Ott, Robert Shearman, Ken Vogel, Wendy Cecil, and David Baltensperger. Panhandle Research & Ext. Center, "452 Ave I, Univ. of Nebraska", Scotts Bluff, NE 69361, United States of America

Warm-season and cool-season perennial range grass seed is necessary for the ecological management of regional grasslands under programs such as CRP and other government or privately sponsored programs for re-establishment of vegetation that has been destroyed by farming, construction, mining, fires and other causes. Grass seed production, has emerged as a viable compliment to production of traditional crops on the High Plains on limited acreage. Research was initiated by University of Nebraska researchers at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center near Scottsbluff to investigate the potential of growing warm-season and cool-season grass seed using the highly intensive management system currently used in the production of turf grass seed. Management included sprinkler irrigation during periods of optimum plant use, intensive soil nutrient enhancement, and effective weed control measures. A diverse selection of native and introduced range grass species and cultivars were tested. Cultivars which are adapted to the environmental conditions of the region, generally produced good seed yields. Warm-season species Blue grama and Side-oats grama produced yields averaging 390 and 940 kg/ha, respectively, during 3 years of research. Best yielding cool-season species, Siberian, Slender, Crested, Intermediate and Western wheatgrasses averaged yields of 1120, 1070, 740, 720, and 610  kg/ha, respectively, even though unexpected insect damage to Crested and Intermediate wheatgrasses resulted in substantial yield reductions or no yield the third year of research. This research demonstrated that many cool-season and warm-season perennial range grass species can be grown successfully in the High Plains region using this turf grass management system to meet grassland revegetation needs.


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See more of The Western Society of Crop Science (June 19-21, 2006)