Cane Bluestems: Forage Yield, Forage Quality, and Water-Use Efficiency

Abstract

Three collections of cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodis Herter) were evaluated under three water and three harvest regimes. Dry matter yields, under natural rainfall and irrigation, averaged 3.8 and 8.7 metric tons/ha, respectively. Productivity of the three collections ranked G-866 > G-820 > PMT-333 under natural rainfall, but with irrigation, the ranking was G-820 > G-866 > PMT-333. One and two harvests per season resulted in near-equal yields, but three harvests decreased yields. Cane-bluestem forage contained about 10% protein and 0.22% phosphorus (P) in mid-June. In November, previously unclipped forage contained 4.4% protein and 0.12% P, while that clipped twice contained 7.3% protein and 0.18% P. Yield and quality of cane bluestem compared favorably with that of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) grown in a similar study. Maximum production was obtained with about 77 cm of water use (rainfall + irrigation + soil water).