Switchgrass establishment by conservation tillage: Planting date responses of two varieties

Abstract

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a warm-season grass, has many potential conservation applications, but slow and inconsistent establishment has limited its use, Conservation tillage was successfully used to establish switchgrass in central Pennsylvania when planted early. Yields in the year after seeding ranged from 5,690 kilograms per hectare (5,080 pounds/acre) to 10 kg/ha (9 lb/a), depending upon variety and planting date. Early planting dates (May) produced the best stands, but the two varieties tested differed in their response, Blackwell being less sensitive to planting date than KY 1625.