| Scientific name: | Panicum virgatum |
| Cultivars: | Sunburst (hardiness zone 4), Cave-In-Rock (hardiness zone 5) , Dacotah, Forestburg, Blackwell, Pathfinder, and Shawnee |
| Origin: | Native to most of U.S. |
| Growth Habit: | Bunch type |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial |
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| Use |
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| Production: | Great for warm-season pasture and produces high quality hay. Highly productive in late spring and early summer. Has also been considered for use as an alternative fuel due to high levels of cellulose that could be used for ethanol production. |
| Nutritive Value: | CP can range from 14-20 |
| Herbaria Image: | Click this link |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Panicle, 4-20 |
| Seed: | 1/10-1/5" long, 1-1.5mm wide. Long and delicate, similar to wild rice in shape. Light tan to brown in color. |
| Shoot: | Erect, can have a purple hue. 15"10' long, 3-5mm wide. Round and hard. |
| Leaf: | 10 to 60 cm long, 2-15mm wide |
| Auricles: | |
| Ligule: | 3/4 |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | Sandy to clay loam. Does not do well on heavier soils. |
| pH: | 5.4-8.2 |
| Moisture: | Can tolerate a range of drainage. |
| Temperature: | Well adapted to most of continental U.S. |
| Other: | |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | 10 lbs/acre broadcast or drilled, 6 to 8 lb/acre if using PLS (Pure Live Seed). Should be planted in firm seedbeds and rolled over after planting.
For seed production, use solid- seeded stands or specialized row widths of 15 to 40 inches. |
| Seed cost: | $11-14/lb; ~$65-100/acre |
| Planting date: | Spring after soil temperature is above 55- 60°F |
| Planting depth: | 1/2" |
| Frost seeding: | Helps breaks switchgrass seed dormancy by exposing the seed to the natural freeze/thaw cycle that seed would have gone through by dropping to the ground the previous fall. This process is known as stratification. |
| Fertilization: | N application should occur after establishment when seedlings are growing for 2 to 3 weeks, as to not stimulate weed growth.
N fertilize with 50 to 100 lb/acre/year.
Apply P & K according to testing, before or at seeding. |
| Grazing: | Mow to 4-6 inches in late spring/early summer. Should only be grazed late in first year, if at all. If grazing in first year, grazings should be short with 30 day rests between. Graze after 14-16" of growth and stop at 4-8". |
| Hay: | Highest quality hay will be produced in early summer.
Cutting height should remain at or above 8-10" for quick recovery of stand after haying. |
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| Notes |
Burning of fields every 3-5 years before spring growth has been shown to result in more productive stands.
Switchgrass has been shown to cause phototoxic reactions in horses, which can cause hair loss and sunburn. Switchgrass is not recommended for horses. |
