A simple vigor test for adjusting switchgrass seeding rate in marginal and fertile soils. (28th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sadeghpour, Amir; Hashemi, Masoud; Herbert, Stephen J.
• Is Part Of: Grassland science. Volume 60:Number 4(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 252
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2014-10-28
• Subjects: Grasslands -- Periodicals; Grasslands -- Management -- Periodicals; 578.74
• DOI: 10.1111/grs.12066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-6961

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="grs12066-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Calculating switchgrass (<italic>Panicum virgatum</italic> L.) seeding rate is misleading and often causes stand failure. Our objective was to introduce a simple vigor test to adjust the seeding rate and enhance switchgrass establishment and productivity in the establishment year in fertile and marginal soils. Seeding rate for four switchgrass varieties ('Blackwell, ' 'Carthage, ' 'Cave‐in‐Rock' and 'Shawnee') was adjusted ranging from 25 to 125% based on a vigor test. Results indicated increase in seedling emergence and establishment with increasing the seeding rate. Higher established seedlings were recorded from the fertile soil (131 seedlings m⁻²) compared with the marginal soil (78 seedlings m⁻²). Based on our previous findings, 100 established seedlings often is considered as a successful establishment; therefore, a 50% (6.89 kg ha⁻¹) and 100% (13.82 kg ha⁻¹) adjusted seeding rates could provide sufficient stand density (111 and 94 seedlings m⁻²) in the establishment year in fertile and marginal soils, respectively.</p> </abstract>