Part 1, Section 8: Forages
Forages
Warm-season grasses
Species and varieties
Switchgrass. A tall, bunch grass that tolerates poorly drained soils, flooding, and perched water tables better than other warm-season grasses. Primary growth is in mid-summer and can be used to complement a cool-season grass forage program by providing additional forage in the summer (Figure 1.8-1).
Cave-in-Rock. A highly productive variety that heads by early to midsummer.
Blackwell. A widely adapted variety that is fine stemmed and heads early to midsummer. Shorter lived than Cave-in-Rock.
Big bluestem. A tall, bunch grass that is more drought tolerant than other tall warm-season grasses and thus is better adapted to excessively drained soils with low water-holding capacity. Primary growth is in midsummer and can be used to complement a cool-season grass forage program by providing additional forage in summer (Figure 1.8-1).
Niagara. A newly released variety especially adapted to northeast conditions. Forage quality is good. Tolerant to leaf spot. Matures early in summer season.