How Grass Grows Developed by: Wendy Williams, NRCS, Bozeman, Montana UNCE, Reno, Nev.
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How Grass Grows Developed by: Wendy Williams, NRCS, Bozeman, Montana UNCE, Reno, Nev. Topics to be covered: Living n How plants make food Legumes and grasses How pasture plants grow Growth and reproduction Managing growing points Plant identification Determining forage yield the Land Living n the Land How plants make food for growth What plants are growing in my pasture? Living n Legumes Grasses Weeds (we’ll talk about them later) the Land UNCE, Reno, Nev. Legumes Living n the Land flower leaf stem leaflet stolon taproot A. Miller Parts of a legume How legumes grow Living n Vegetative growth Bud stage Flowering the Land NCSU Grasses Living n the Land Parts of a grass plant NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Grasses consist of several growth segments Each segment contains a: Leaf Node Internode Axillary bud or potential bud – can produce a new stem or tiller NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Living n Penn State Univ. 2 tillers developing from the crown of the plant the Land OSU A joint (node) Growing Points Location where cells divide and produce new growth Occur close to the ground early in the growing season Become elevated above ground as the growing season progresses NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Stages of grass growth Vegetative Growth of leaves Elongation Living n Lengthening of stem internodes, also called jointing Boot stage is the end of elongation Reproductive Development of seedhead and seed the Land Plant reproduction Living n Grass plants reproduce by forming seed heads Some plants also reproduce by sending out spreading roots or shoots the Land USDA NRCS UNCE, Reno, Nev. Growing point level Intact growing points Regrowth Short-shoot phase of growth Regrowth Growing points removed; must regrow from basal buds Long-shoot phase of growth (elongated internodes) Forage growth and management Living n the Land USDA NRCS Forage growth patterns Living n Growing points at ground level Growing points on the stem Growing points at the stem tips the Land Smooth brome Carbohydrate reserves (food) Living n Penn State Univ. Kentucky bluegrass rhizome the Land Stored in roots, rhizomes, stolons and base of stem Used for first spring growth of dormant plants Allow rapid regrowth from stubble Adapted from NRCS by A. Miller Adapted from NRCS by A. Miller Adapted from NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Take half and leave half Adapted from NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. by A. Miller UNCE, Reno, Nev. Nutrient content by plant growth stage A B C Adapted from www.ag.ndsu.edu by A. Miller Managing for productivity Living n Early to mid-season, maximum forage production can be obtained by keeping the plant in a vegetative state by preventing seed head production Depending on the species, you may want to let the grass form a seed head at the end of the season the Land Identifying grasses Living n the Land UNCE, Reno, Nev. Plant life cycles Living n Annual Biennial Perennial OSU the Land Cool-season plants Living n Optimum temperature range 65 to 75 degrees F Productive in spring and fall Reduced growth in summer Higher in crude protein Respond to nitrogen fertilizer Orchardgrass, fescues, perennial ryegrass and bromes are examples the Land Warm-season plants Living n Better at using atmospheric nitrogen Grow best at high temperatures (90 to 95 degrees F) Lower in protein but protein is more efficiently used by animals Triggered by day lengths Examples are big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, and sudangrass the Land Cool-season versus warm-season grass productivity A. Miller Cool-season bunchgrasses Living n Growth occurs in early spring or late fall Grows in bunches or clumps Grass propagates by seed only More elevated leaves Grazing must be managed to optimize productivity the Land Tall fescue Living n the Land www.agry.purdue.edu National Forage and Grass Curriculum www.aginfonet.com Orchardgrass Living n www.agry.purdue.edu the Land www.aginfonet.com Perennial ryegrass Living n the Land www.agry.purdue.edu Annual ryegrass Living n www.forages.orst.edu the Land Timothy Living n www.argy.purdue.edu the Land www.aginfonet.com Crested wheatgrass Living n the Land National Park Service www.aginfonet.com Siberian wheatgrass Living n APMC, Idaho the Land Tall wheatgrass Living n the Land www.usask.ca Intermediate wheatgrass Living n the Land www.agric.gov.ab.ca Pubescent wheatgrass Living n the Land NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Slender wheatgrass Living n the Land USDA Plant Gallery Basin wildrye Living n plants.usda.gov the Land Aberdeen Plant Materials Center, Idaho. Russian wildrye Living n www.inspection.ga.ca prairiewild.com the Land Cool-season sod-forming grasses Living n Growth occurs in early spring or late fall Growth forms a mat of roots or sod Plants propagate from both seed and rhizomes or stolons More tolerant of grazing the Land Kentucky bluegrass Living n www.agry.purdue.edu the Land Brome, annual species Living n Soft chess / Blando brome Japanese brome Red brome Undesirable species Ripgut Cheatgrass the Land Soft chess / Blando brome Living n the Land elib.cs.berkeley.edu Japanese brome Living n the Land incolor.inebraska.com Meadow brome Living n www.agric.gov.ab.ca the Land www.aginfonet.com Red brome Living n the Land Burke Museum of Natural History Smooth brome Living n www.agry.purdue.edu the Land UNCE, Reno, Nev. Garrison creeping foxtail Living n agronomy.unl.edu the Land www.aginfonet.com Meadow foxtail Living n www.forages.css.orst.edu the Land Quackgrass Living n www.ppws.vt.edu the Land www.ipm.ucdavis.edu Reed canarygrass Living n www.aginfonet.com www.agry.purdue.edu the Land Streambank wheatgrass Living n the Land www.aginfonet.com Thickspike wheatgrass Living n the Land www.dnr.state.wi.us NRCS Plant Database Western wheatgrass Living n www.inspection.ga.ca Kansas Grasses the Land USDA Plant Gallery Warm-season bunchgrasses Living n Growth occurs late spring to early summer Growth occurs in clumps Plants propagate by seed only Grazing needs to be managed correctly so that seed heads do not form too early the Land Alkali sacaton Living n the Land www.noble.org Big bluestem National Forage and Grasslands Curriculum Living n www.noble.org www.noble.org the Land Little bluestem Living n the Land www.noble.org Sideoats grama Living n the Land www.noble.org Warm-season sod-forming grasses Living n Growth occurs in late spring to early summer Growth forms a mat of roots or sod Plants propagate from both seed and rhizomes or stolons More tolerant of grazing the Land Indiangrass www.noble.org Living n the Land www.noble.org Switchgrass Living n www.noble.org the Land Sudangrass Living n National Forage and Grasslands Curriculum the Land www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages Sorghum-Sudangrass hybrids Living n the Land www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages Legumes Living n Plants that fix nitrogen from the air Can reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizers More growth in the hot summer months than grasses Watch out for bloat Need to be inoculated the Land Bloat Living n the Land Laurie Ball-Gisch Alfalfa Living n www.agry.purdue.edu the Land www.aginfonet.com Birdsfoot trefoil Living n the Land UIUC www.agry.purdue.edu Alsike clover Living n Burke Museum the Land www.agry.purdue.edu Red clover Living n www.noble.org the Land www.agry.purdue.edu Strawberry clover Living n the Land clay.agr.okstate.edu Subterranean clovers Living n the Land elib.cs.berkeley.edu White clover Living n the Land www.agry.purdue.edu Yellow and white sweetclover Living n www.agry.purdue.edu the Land Living n the Land clay.agr.okstate.edu Sainfoin Cicer milkvetch Living n the Land extension.agron.iastate.edu Common vetch (also called spring vetch) Living n the Land www.noble.org National Forage and Grasslands Curriculum Living n Grass identification – it’s time to try your skills! the Land How much grass do I have? Living n the Land Determine forage yield Living n the Land Construct a clipping ring using an eight foot long piece of cable that has been bolted together. NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. General estimates for determining forage yield Living n Usable forage in reasonably good condition pasture = 35% of total forage Usable forage in “native” pasture or rangeland = 25% of total forage the Land Forage yield examples Living n If the clipping weight is 200 grams, multiply by 20 for a total available forage yield of 4000 pounds per acre Usable forage – pasture 4000 lbs x 35% (0.35) = 1400 lb/acre Usable forage – “native” pasture 4000 lbs x 25% (0.25) = 1000 lb/acre the Land Forage availability estimates Living n Check your pasturelands handout to match hay yield to forage availability. Clip the grasses for more accurate forage production figures the Land What are you going to do with your forage? Living n Graze it! How long can you graze? Just long enough that you preserve growing points and leaf area Then you must rest your pasture the Land How long do you have to rest your pastures? Depends upon: Living n Period in the growing season Availability of irrigation water Amount of active leaf area remaining following the grazing period Cool-season grasses recover more quickly in spring and autumn the Land Approximate grazing length and regrowth periods Season Grazing length Regrowth period Spring 4 – 5 days 10 – 14 days Summer 9 – 10 days 21 – 30 days Late summer 12 – 15 days 30 – 45 days Wait a minute! I don’t have grazing animals! What are you trying to manage? What are your management goals? Living n Attract and maintain wildlife Discourage wildlife Defensible space Aesthetics Noxious weed management the Land Methods for removing forage Mowing Living n Need equipment Need grass species that grow upright Be sure to maintain the growing points Fertilize or add legumes Leasing to livestock managers for grazing Need to know your forage yield Don’t assume management will be good the Land What about burning as a management tool? Living n Removes rank vegetation, duff, litter Release mineralized nutrients Manage some weeds Regeneration of certain species Control diseases and insects the Land Problems with burning Living n Smoke management Unhappy neighbors Requires a permit the Land UNCE, Reno, Nev. Problems with burning Living n Liability issues – wildfire, etc. Melts plastic fences Dust and ash issues Short-term water quality issues the Land UNCE, Reno, Nev. Remember: love your grass as much as your animals and you’ll all be happy! Living n Identify what is growing in your pasture(s) Determine which plant(s) to use as a “key species” for your pasture(s) Determine the forage yield of your pasture(s) the Land Homework Living n Identify three of the most common grass and legume species in each of your pastures. Select your key species. Calculate forage yields. the Land