Publication Date
1993
Description
Bastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) is highly regarded as a native forage resource in the prairie region of North America. Recent discovery of a gynomonoecious plant in Kansas has raised expectations that efficient seed production will be possible with the species. A possible use for eastern gamagrass is as a perennial haylage crop for dairy farms, replacing erosion-prone silage corn. Compared with corn silage, eastern gamagrass forage has higher crude protein, slightly lower energy, and higher neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Breeding work is underway to develop hardy, high volume forage-producing strains with good seed production capability. Management schemes are being tested that cover stand establishment, fertility management, and harvest methods.
Citation
Dickerson, John A. and Salon, Paul R., "Developing Eastern Gamagrass on a Conserved Forage" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session46/4
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Developing Eastern Gamagrass on a Conserved Forage
Bastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) is highly regarded as a native forage resource in the prairie region of North America. Recent discovery of a gynomonoecious plant in Kansas has raised expectations that efficient seed production will be possible with the species. A possible use for eastern gamagrass is as a perennial haylage crop for dairy farms, replacing erosion-prone silage corn. Compared with corn silage, eastern gamagrass forage has higher crude protein, slightly lower energy, and higher neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Breeding work is underway to develop hardy, high volume forage-producing strains with good seed production capability. Management schemes are being tested that cover stand establishment, fertility management, and harvest methods.
