Native Warm-Season Grass Response to Nitrogen Fertilization

• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14010180
• Publication Date: 2024-01-15T09:03:26Z
• Authors: Eric Bisangwa; Jonathan D. Richwine; Patrick D. Keyser; Amanda J. Ashworth; Forbes R. Walker
• Keywords: Andropogon; Panicum virgatum; Panicum; Growing season

The identification of appropriate nitrogen (N) rates for native warm-season grasses (NWSG) is needed to inform forage management in the southeastern United States. Experiments were conducted Knoxville and Springfield, TN, from 2015 2019, evaluate dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value (FNV), influence temperature precipitation on partial factor productivity (PFP) responses. Three NWSG species (big bluestem [BB; Andropogon gerardii Vitman], switchgrass [SG; Panicum virgatum L.], eastern gamagrass [EG; Tripsacum dactyloides L.]) grown at each location harvested twice annually. Five N form urea applied annually split applications. yields all responded positively (p < 0.001) time harvest both sites, except BB yield Springfield; no consistent effects observed over years. Nitrogen affected FNV species, increasing CP by three five percentage points 0.001). Yields across locations A moderate amendment (<135 kg ha−1 yr−1, based PFP) can enhance NWSG, but responses site-dependent influenced precipitation.