Types of Switchgrass

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): is a summer perennial grass that is native to North america.

• There are two major Categories for Switchgrass:– Upland Cultivars

• Upland types usually grow 5 to 6 feet tall and are adapted to well drained soils.

– Lowland Cultivars• Lowland Cultivars are more adaptive to warmer climates such as

the southern USA and are much higher yielding than uplands.• Lowland types grow up to 12 feet tall and which are typically

found on heavy soils in bottomland sites.• In Kentucky, Lowland types are what is commonly and

potentially being grown.

Lowland Switchgrass

• Alamo and Kanlow are potential types of lowland switchgrass being grown for biofuels production in Kentucky– Alamo & Kanlow have a high dry matter (DM) yield capability.– They display good resistance to stem rust disease.– Have good cold-weather tolerance– Have a fair drought tolerance

http://www.buffalobrandseed.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=100348

http://www.lorenzsokseedsllc.com/switchgrass-a-viable-source-of-bioenergy/

Lowland Switchgrass Info

Alamo• Soils: clays to fine sands• Minimum rainfall: 20

inches• Height: 4 – 10 feet• Spread: 24 – 60 inches

Kanlow

• Soils: clays to fine sands• Minimum rainfall: 20

inches• Height: 3 – 8 feet• Spread: 24 – 60 inches

Planting MethodsAlamo

• Plant in early spring to mid-summer

• Can use no-till, conventional, and broadcast methods of seeding.

• Planting depth: ¼ inch• Planting rate: 6 lbs PLS per

acre.• Seed cost: $13.25 per

pound• pH: medium range of P and

K are desirable w/ pH 5.5 – 6.5

Kanlow• Planting in early spring to

mid-summer.• Can use no-till, conventional,

and broadcast methods of seeding.

• Planting depth: ½ inch• Planting rate: 6 lbs PLS per

acre.• Seed cost: $13.25 per pound• pH: medium range of P and K

are desirable w/ pH 5.5 – 6.5

Weed Control

– Broadleaf weeds should be eradicated early by using 2-4-D, Banvel, or similar herbicide.

– Clipping 1 -3 times during first growing season to a stubble height 4 - 5 inches when the weeds reach 6 -10 inches.

Compatible Soils

• Alamo– Best soils are moderately deep to deep, somewhat dry to poorly drained,

sandy to clay loam soils unless severe weed competition exists during establishment. In the East, it performs well on shallow and droughty soil. Switchgrass does poorly on heavy soils.

• Kanlow– Switchgrass is broadly adapted and will perform well in a wide range of

soil types. Loam and sandy soils allow for roots and crown to spread more easily than some denser clay soils. Whatever the soil type, successful establishment requires planting when the soil temperature is warm and moisture is available. Sandy soils dry out more quickly, potentially limiting establishment success and biomass yields.

Harvesting

• Switchgrass can be harvested and baled with commercially available haying equipment.

• Self-propelled harvesters equipped with a rotary head (disc mowers) have most effectively harvested high-yielding (>6-ton per acre) switchgrass fields.

• Additionally, after a killing frost, the multidirectional arrangement of the switchgrass in the windrow was easier to bale than the linearly arranged windrow left by a sickle-bar head.