Dry Matter Accumulation of Four Warm Season Grasses in the Nebraska Sandhills

Abstract

Grass development and seasonal growth patterns are used in making range management decisions. Plant development and dry matter accumulation of four warm-season grasses were studied in the Nebraska Sandhills. Development of the grasses were slowed during 1974 due to low precipitation. Plant, leaf blade, and stem dry matter accumulation per shoot increased with successive harvests and were considerably greater both years for the tall grasses, sand bluestem [Andropogon hallii Hack.] and switchgrass [Panicum virgatum L.], than for the mid-grasses, little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash.] and sand lovegrass [Eragrostis trichodes (Nutt.) Wood]. Leaf blade to stem ratios decreased with successive harvests for all grasses. Dry matter accumulation of the tall grasses was affected more by the low rainfall in 1974 than that of the mid-grasses. At the last harvest, decrease in stem dry matter accumulation was considerably greater than the decrease in leaf blade dry matter accumulation in 1974 as compared to 1973.