Influence of Improvement Practices on Big Bluestem and Indiangrass Seed Production in Tallgrass Prairies

Masters, Robert A.; Mitchell, Robert B.; Vogel, Kenneth P.; Waller, Steven S.

doi:10.2307/4002278

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Additionally, Harlan & Kneebone (), George & Reigh (), and Masters et al . () demonstrated that N application significantly increased the density of reproductive tillers and seed produced for big bluestem and switchgrass. This is different from the trend found in this study for eastern gamagrass, in which MSC decreased when N was applied at 140 g ha −1 in 2006 (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen and harvest date affect developmental morphology and biomass yield of warm‐season grasses

2013

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Information on the growth and development of warm-season grasses in response to management is required to use them successfully as a biomass crop. Our objectives were to determine optimum harvest periods and effect of N fertilization rates on the biomass production of four warm-season grasses, and to investigate if traits of canopy structure can explain observed yields with varying harvest dates and N rates. A field study was conducted at Sorenson Research Farm near Ames, IA, during 2006 and 2007. The experimental design was split-split plot arranged in a randomized complete block with four replications. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutrans L. Nash), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) were main plots. Three N application rates (0, 65, and 140 kg ha À1 ) were subplots, and 10 harvest dates were sub-sub plots. Biomass of warm-season grasses increased with advanced maturity, but differently among species. The maximum yield of eastern gamagrass occurred at the highest MSC (1.6 and 2.2) when the largest seed ripening tillers were present. Big bluestem, switchgrass, and indiangrass obtained the maximum yields at MSC 3.5, 3.9, and 2.9, respectively when the largest reproductive tillers were present. In terms of a biomass supply strategy, eastern gamagrass may be used during early summer, while big bluestem and switchgrass may be best used between mid-and late-summer, and indiangrass in early fall. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield by increasing tiller development. Optimum biomass yields were obtained later in the season when they were fertilized with 140 kg ha À1.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen and harvest date affect developmental morphology and biomass yield of warm‐season grasses

2013

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“…Andropogon gerardii frequently produces large numbers of fertile spikelets that do not contain a seed (Masters et al, 1993). Thus, number and percent of seeds in the spikelets were carefully determined.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Intraspecific Polyploidy in Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) Populations

Keeler

2004

The American Midland Naturalist

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ABSTRACT.-Andropogon gerardii populations are comprised of two (or more) polyploid forms over much of the range of the species. To understand the impact of intraspecific polyploidy, polyploid cytotypes were compared over 4 y in native grasslands in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder A. gerardii populations averaged 59.6% hexaploids (60 chromosomes), 35.3% enneaploids (90 chromosomes) and 5.1% intermediate (aneuploid) chromosome numbers using flow cytometry to infer chromosome numbers. Neither mean clone area nor mean annual change in clone area differed significantly between ploidy levels. Hexaploid clones produced significantly more viable seeds than enneaploids. Enneaploids are not replacing themselves, whether that is measured absolutely or relative to hexaploids. Enneaploid reproductive effort was greater than hexaploid reproductive effort in some years and they produce substantial numbers of good seeds, but those seeds rarely have enneaploid cytotypes. The populations should eventually become entirely hexaploid. In the current populations, however, enneaploids are big, vigorous and fertile individuals.

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“…In contrast, mixed populations with high frequencies of aborted pollen and ovules would be expected to have much lower frequencies of good seed. Very low seed production is observed in wild populations (e.g., Masters et al, 1993; L. Reidel, City of Boulder Open Space, personal communication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of common cytotypesof Andropogon gerardii(Andropogoneae, Poaceae)

Keeler

Davis

1999

American J of Botany

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Many plant species contain populations with more than one polyploid cytotype, but little is known of the mechanisms maintaining several cytotypes in a population. Andropogon gerardii cytotypes were compared to evaluate different models of autopolyploid cytotype coexistence. The enneaploid (90 chromosome, 9x) cytotype was found to be larger and taller than the hexaploid (60 chromosome, 6x) cytotype. Seed production is significantly more efficient in hexaploids, but seed production per area was not significantly different. The two cytotypes are not exomorphologically separable in the field because of great plasticity in response to environmental variation and wide variation within each cytotype. These data suggest cytotypic variation is maintained by natural selection.

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Influence of Improvement Practices on Big Bluestem and Indiangrass Seed Production in Tallgrass Prairies

Cited by 23 publications

References 11 publications

Nitrogen and harvest date affect developmental morphology and biomass yield of warm‐season grasses

Nitrogen and harvest date affect developmental morphology and biomass yield of warm‐season grasses

Impact of Intraspecific Polyploidy in Andropogon gerardii (Poaceae) Populations

Comparison of common cytotypesof Andropogon gerardii(Andropogoneae, Poaceae)

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