Salinity effects on perennial, warm-season (C4) grass germination adapted to the northern Great Plains

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 873-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Schmer ◽  
Q. Xue ◽  
J. R. Hendrickson
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Salinity Effects ◽  
Prairie Cordgrass

Schmer, M. R., Xue, Q. and Hendrickson, J. R. 2012. Salinity effects on perennial, warm-season (C4) grass germination adapted to the northern Great Plains. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 873–881. Limited information is available on the germination of perennial C4grasses adapted to the northern Great Plains under saline conditions. Big bluestem (Andropogen gerardii Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) seeds were evaluated under non-saline and saline conditions corresponding to electric conductivity (EC) values of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 dS m−1, respectively. Ten cultivars were evaluated to determine salinity tolerance differences among and within species. Seeds were monitored for 21 d and analyzed for final germination percentage (GP), germination rate index (GRI), corrected germination rate index (CGRI), and germination velocity (GV). Differences among species were observed for all indices tested (P<0.01). Indices showed within species variation for big bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass. Big bluestem had the highest germination rates under increased salinity levels while prairie cordgrass had the lowest germination rates under non-saline and saline conditions. Indiangrass showed higher seed germination than switchgrass under low EC levels (0 to 4 dS m−1) but declined at a higher rate when EC levels exceeded 16 dS m−1. Results from this study suggest grassland reestablishment from seed on variable saline soils will be dependent on both the species chosen and the specific cultivar used.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Ornamental Grasses for the Northern Great Plains

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-229
Author(s):  
C.G. Davidson ◽  
S.M. Gobin
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Bromus Inermis ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Spartina Pectinata ◽  
Calamagrostis Epigejos ◽  
Very High

Abstract A total of 160 grass or grass-like species/cultivars were evaluated under field conditions for a period of four years. Detailed assessments of survival, growth and development are presented. Horticultural evaluations were completed on all material, providing a basis for making recommendations for utilization of grasses in the landscape in colder regions (USDA zone 3) of the Great Plains. Thirty accessions were identified with very good to outstanding visual appeal. Plants that were rated very high for horticultural value included: big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), feathertop (Calamagrostis epigejos), many of the sedges (Carex sp.), plumegrass (Erianthus ravennae), Hervier's fescue (Festuca hervierri), Leman's fescue (Festuca lemanii), tall purple rhoorgrass (Molinia caerulea spp. arundinacea cv. Skyracer), switchgrass species and cultivars (Panicum virgatum cv. Haense Herms, Heavy Metal and Strictum), ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae) and variegated cordgrass (Spartina pectinata cv. Aureo-marginata). Eighteen accessions were removed from the test mainly due to their invasive nature (e.g., Bromus inermis cv. Skinner's Golden, Elymus spp., Glyceria maxima and Phragmites australis). Of the remaining 142 accessions, 71.8% had at least one plant remaining at the end of the test period (1996).

RESPONSE OF THREE WARM-SEASON GRASSES TO VARYING FERTILITY LEVELS ON FIVE SOILS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. TAYLOR ◽  
D. W. ALLINSON
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
P Fertilization ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Animal production in New England has been limited by inadequate forage during mid- to late summer when cool-season grasses are in summer dormancy. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are warm-season grasses that may be a perennial source of summer forage. Since production of these warm-season grasses would be limited to the less fertile soils of the region, a greenhouse study was conducted to examine the growth and quality of these species in five acid, infertile soils as well as fertilizer-amended soils. The soils were fertilized with limestone (L), limestone plus nitrogen (LN), limestone, nitrogen plus phosphorus (LNP), and limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus plus potassium (LNPK). Limestone was applied to adjust soils to a pH of 6.5. Fertilizer was applied at rates of 45, 117 and 111 kg/ha of N, P and K, respectively. First harvest yields were greatest for switchgrass and big bluestem, but indiangrass produced significantly greater yields than either of the other grasses in the second harvest. In both harvests, the yields of all grasses were greatest under the LNP and LNPK fertility regimes. Nitrogen, without P, did not significantly increase yields above the control treatment in the first harvest. Yield responses to P fertilization varied with soils. Although P appeared to be the limiting factor insofar as growth was concerned, the yield response from P fertilization would probably be limited without N fertilization. Indiangrass was significantly higher in crude protein and K concentration and significantly lower in Ca concentration than big bluestem and switchgrass. Phosphorus concentrations were below the recommended levels for ruminant nutrition.

Production characteristics of the mixed prairie: constraints and potential

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Willms ◽  
P. G. Jefferson
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Mixed Prairie

The mixed prairie represents the most arid region of the Northern Great Plains in Canada. Approximately 6.5 M ha of the original total of 24 M ha have retained their native character. The native prairie supports about 5.3 M animal–unit–months or about 15% of all beef cattle present on the Canadian prairies. A large portion of the area is dominated by either needle-and-thread (Stipa comata Trin. + Rupr.) or western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.), both cool season grasses, and associated with blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.] a warm season grass. These species define the major plant communities of the mixed prairie and determine their production potential. However, their production is limited by available water during the growing season and by soil nutrients; factors which also influence their species composition. Grazing imposes a significant impact on the grasslands by altering the water and nutrient cycles, through defoliation and reduced plant litter, and eventually by affecting the species composition. Removing litter may reduce forage production by up to 60% and repeated defoliation will favour the more drought tolerant but less productive species. Forage production may be increased by seeding introduced species, which have a greater shoot to root ratio than native grasses, or with fertilizer application. Livestock production may be increased with the use of grazing systems. However, the benefits of each practice on the mixed prairie must be assessed in terms of their cost, their impact on the environment, and the reduced or lost value for other users. Key words: Biomass, above-ground, below-ground, water-use efficiency, reseeding, soil fertility, grazing efficiency

scholarly journals A Regime-Based Evaluation of Southern and Northern Great Plains Warm-Season Precipitation Events in WRF

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyu Wang ◽  
Xiquan Dong ◽  
Aaron Kennedy ◽  
Brooke Hagenhoff ◽  
Baike Xi
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Self Organizing Map ◽  
Synoptic Patterns ◽  
Competitive Neural Network ◽  
Convective Rain ◽  
Precipitation Events

Abstract A competitive neural network known as the self-organizing map (SOM) is used to objectively identify synoptic patterns in the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) for warm-season (April–September) precipitation events over the Southern and Northern Great Plains (SGP/NGP) from 2007 to 2014. Classifications for both regions demonstrate contrast in dominant synoptic patterns ranging from extratropical cyclones to subtropical ridges, all of which have preferred months of occurrence. Precipitation from deterministic Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model simulations run by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) are evaluated against National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Stage IV observations. The SGP features larger observed precipitation amount, intensity, and coverage, as well as better model performance than the NGP. Both regions’ simulated convective rain intensity and coverage have good agreement with observations, whereas the stratiform rain (SR) is more problematic with weaker intensity and larger coverage. Further evaluation based on SOM regimes shows that WRF bias varies with the type of meteorological forcing, which can be traced to differences in the diurnal cycle and properties of stratiform and convective rain. The higher performance scores are generally associated with the extratropical cyclone condition than the subtropical ridge. Of the six SOM classes over both regions, the largest precipitation oversimulation is found for SR dominated classes, whereas a nocturnal negative precipitation bias exists for classes featuring upscale growth of convection.

Fertilizer N rates to optimize bioenergy feedstock production and water quality in semi-arid environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Allen ◽  
Upendra Sainju ◽  
Jay Jabro
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Bioenergy Feedstock ◽  
N Rates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

&lt;p&gt;Renewable bioenergy feedstocks offset the demand for conventional petroleum-based energy resources. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season perennial C4 grass that has been utilized for lingo-cellulosic ethanol production and direct energy via combustion. However, little is known about its potential as a feedstock in the semi-arid northern Great Plains USA, including the impact of N fertilizer application on biomass production and on environmental quality. A field study initiated in 2009 seeded &amp;#8216;Sunburst&amp;#8217; switchgrass into 12.2 m by 30.5 m plots. Split plots randomized within each main plot included fertilizer N broadcast each spring at 0, 28, 56, and 84 kg N per ha as urea, with four treatment replicates. Aboveground biomass, allowing a 20 cm stubble height, was harvested, weighed, and dried at 55 deg C each fall beginning in 2011 from four randomly selected 0.25 m sq areas. Soil cores were taken to a depth of 1.2 m in fall 2018, air-dried, and analyzed for soil nitrate. Switchgrass biomass ranged from 1.8 to 12.3 Mg per ha. In most years, N application increased switchgrass biomass, but response to N rates above 28 kg per ha was inconsistent. Biomass from fertilized switchgrass averaged 6.5 Mg per ha compared to 4.4 Mg per ha for the unfertilized control.&amp;#160; Soil nitrate levels indicated the potential of (over)fertilization of switchgrass feedstocks to impact water resources in semi-arid environments.&lt;/p&gt;

Effect of Kochia (Kochia scoparia) Interference on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Yield

Weed Science ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek W. Lewis ◽  
Robert H. Gulden
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Seed Quality ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Leaf Stage ◽  
Action Threshold ◽  
Sunflower Crop

Kochia is a weed found in many sunflower fields across the Northern Great Plains. There is limited information about the ability of sunflower plants to compete with kochia, specifically when the weed grows both in the crop row and in the inter-row space, as in zero tillage systems that rely solely on herbicides to manage weeds. An experiment was conducted over seven site–yr, from 2009 to 2011, to determine the effect of kochia density and relative time of kochia seedling recruitment on sunflower growth and development, yield and seed quality. Kochia seed was broadcast on the soil surface at six densities, into sunflowers planted in 75-cm rows, either at the same time as the sunflower crop was planted (early weed seedling recruitment), or when the sunflowers were at the four-leaf stage (late weed seedling recruitment). When kochia plants emerged at the same time as the sunflowers, yield was reduced by up to 76% and sunflower head diam was reduced in four site–yr, stem diam was reduced in three site–yr, height was reduced in two site–yr and the number of leaves per sunflower plant was reduced in two site–yr The 5% action threshold for early emerging kochia was four kochia plants m−2in the combined site–yr analysis. Additionally, early recruiting kochia seedlings reduced sunflower seed size and seed weight at two and three site–yr, respectively. Kochia plants that emerged after the four-leaf stage of the sunflower crop did not affect sunflower growth and development, yield, or seed quality. To reduce the potential for yield and seed quality losses, sunflower growers should be proactive with respect to managing kochia in sunflowers, particularly when the kochia plants emerge at about the same time as the sunflowers.

Revegetating Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland with Native Tallgrasses

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Masters ◽  
Scott J. Nissen
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Perennial Weed ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
No Till

Degradation of Great Plains rangelands can be linked to past management practices that reduced native species diversity and accelerated establishment and expansion of exotic weeds and less desirable native species. Leafy spurge is an exotic perennial weed that infests more than 1 million ha in the northern Great Plains and reduces rangeland carrying capacity by competing with desirable forages and causing infested areas to be undesirable to cattle and wildlife. Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of using herbicides to suppress leafy spurge and other resident vegetation, which facilitated planting and establishment of native tallgrasses. Four experiments were conducted where 0.28, 0.56, and 0.84 kg ai/ha imazapyr and 0.1 kg ai/ha sulfometuron were applied alone and in combination and 0.84 kg ai/ha glyphosate was applied to leafy spurge-infested range sites in fall 1991 near Ainsworth, NE, and in fall 1991, 1992, and 1993 near Ansley, NE. Research areas were burned about 200 d after herbicide application to reduce plant residue. Monoculture stands of big bluestem and switchgrass were then no-till planted in each experiment and indiangrass was no-till planted in experiments initiated at Ansley in 1992 and 1993. Yields of the planted grasses, leafy spurge, and other vegetation were measured in August at each location starting the year after planting. Imazapyr was an essential component of treatments applied before planting to facilitate establishment of highly productive stands of the tallgrasses. Generally, yields were maximized by fall treatments of 0.28 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for big bluestem, 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr for indiangrass, and 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for switchgrass. Yields of the planted grasses were frequently four times greater where these herbicides were applied compared to where glyphosate or no herbicide were applied. Leafy spurge yields were usually reduced in areas where tallgrass yields were greatest. The sequential combination of suppressing vegetation with fall-applied herbicides, burning standing dead plant residue, then no-till planting desirable native tallgrasses in the spring increased productivity of these leafy spurge-infested range sites.

scholarly journals Phenotypic and Molecular Diversity of Cochliobolus sativus Populations from Wheat

Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suraj Gurung ◽  
Baidya N. Mahto ◽  
Sanjaya Gyawali ◽  
Tika B. Adhikari
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Molecular Diversity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dna Polymorphisms ◽  
Cochliobolus Sativus ◽  
Fixation Index ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Population Genetic Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Data

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is a devastating foliar disease of wheat in Nepal and in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. However, limited information on variation in virulence and genetic structure of C. sativus from wheat is available. In this study, pathogenic variation of 96 isolates of C. sativus from the Hill and Plain areas in Nepal (n = 48) and in the Central and Northern areas in North Dakota (n = 48) were evaluated on 12 differential wheat lines. DNA polymorphisms in all isolates were analyzed using eight selected amplified fragment length polymorphism primer combinations. Phenotypic data analysis showed the isolates varied greatly and were classified into 47 pathotypes. Cluster analysis indicated the isolates fell into three distinct groups with low, intermediate, and high virulence. Population genetic analysis revealed significant linkage disequilibrium ([Formula: see text] = 0.066 to 0.292), indicating that sexual reproduction plays little or no role in evolution and disease epidemiology in wheat fields. Furthermore, the corrected standardized fixation index (G″ST = 0.05 and 0.02) showed no evidence of genetic differentiation in C. sativus populations. Collectively, these results confirmed high pathogenic and molecular diversity in the C. sativus populations collected from wheat foliar infections and will be useful to assist in developing resistant cultivars to manage this disease.

scholarly journals The value of native, warm-season perennial grasses grown for pasture or biofuel in the southern Great Plains, USA

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 550 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Rogers ◽  
Bryan Nichols ◽  
Jon T. Biermacher ◽  
Jagadeesh Mosali
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Bodyweight Gain ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Biofuel Feedstock ◽  
Cellulosic Biofuel ◽  
Feedstock Production ◽  
High Yields

The Renewable Fuel Standard under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated the production of 60.5 GL (1 GL = 1 × 109 L) of cellulosic biofuel by 2022. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has been identified as a primary feedstock because it is a perennial adapted to a wide environmental range and produces high yields. Development of the cellulosic biofuel industry has been slow, one reason being a lack of available feedstock driven by lack of a developed market. Rather than considering it only as a dedicated biofuel feedstock, we examined switchgrass potential for both grazing and biofuel feedstock. In a series of experiments testing dry matter yield, grazing preference and animal bodyweight gain, switchgrass (cv. Alamo) was found to produce greater total yield (17.7 kg ha–1) than 15 other warm-season perennial grasses, was the most preferred by stocker cattle in a grazing preference study, and produced good average daily gains in a grazing study (0.84–1.05 kg head–1). These results demonstrate the potential of switchgrass for both grazing and biofuel feedstock. However, the feedstock price would need to increase above US$83 Mg–1 before the economics of dedicated switchgrass feedstock production would surpass that of a combination of switchgrass grazing and feedstock production.

Predicting seed germination of slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould subsp. trachycaulus] using thermal and hydro time models

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Schellenberg ◽  
B. Biligetu ◽  
Y. Wei
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Base Temperature ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Elymus Trachycaulus ◽  
San Luis ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Schellenberg, M. P., Biligetu, B. and Wei, Y. 2013. Predicting seed germination of slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould subsp. trachycaulus] using thermal and hydro time models. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 793–798. Slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould subsp. trachycaulus] is a native caespitose grass used for forage production and reclamation. The objective of this study was to quantify seed germination requirements of slender wheatgrass using thermal and hydro time models. Slender wheatgrass, San Luis, had a base temperature (Tb) of 9.48°C, and required 946.8°C h to reach 50% of seed germination. Seed germination of San Lius occurred at a temperature range of 10–30°C, with the highest germination rate being achieved at 20°C, and the highest final germination percentage being achieved at 25°C. At 20 and 25°C, San Luis had a hydro time constant of 61 MPa h, and a median base water potential of approximately 1.0 MPa, but the germination had low uniformity in reduced water potentials. Final germination was reduced at or lower than –0.6 MPa. Compared with many other cool-season native grasses of Northern Great Plains, a relatively warm temperature would be necessary for uniform seedling establishment of this grass. In reclamation seeding, the seedling emergence could reach the highest level at a temperature of 25°C.

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