BIG BLUE STEM
Species: Andropogon gerardii
Origin: Great Plains and eastern USA
Description: Perennial bunch grass, sometime having rhizomes. Grow 3 to 6 feet Tall. More Drought-Tolerance most warms season grasses.
Major uses: Pasture, Hay. It remains palatable and nutritious over a longer time than swithchgrass.
Establishment: Slow seedling establishment. Seed should be planted at 5 to 10 Ib/A pure live seed in April-May.
Fertilization
: Responsive to nitrogen.Seasonal Production: June-August.
Management: Will not tolerate close continuous stocking.
Seasonal Production: June-August
Pest: Minor.
Soil: soils with low moisture holding capacity, pH, and phosphorus.
Legally Labeled forage herbicide:
None herbicides are used at establishment-broadleaf weeds controlled
by 2-4-D or weedmaster.
Links:
http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casdept/agronomy/forage/docs/species/wsgrass.html
http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/arboretum/arbsnapshots/bigbluecurtis.htm
http://www1.umn.edu/bellmuse/mnideals/prairie/fieldguide/bigbluestem.html
Ref:
prairies.Masters,-R.A.; Mitchell,-R.B.; Vogel,-K.P.; Waller Influence of improvement practices on big blue-stem and idiangrass seed production in tallgrass J-Range-Manage. Denver, Colo. : Society for Range Management. Mar 1993. v. 46 (2) p. 183-188..
George,-J.R.; Hall,-K.E.Herbage cation concentrations in switchgrass, big blue-stem, and indiangrass with nitrogen fertilization Panicum virgatum, Andropogon gerardi, Sorghastrum, Iowa. Iowa-State-J-Res. Ames, Iowa, Iowa State University. May 1982. v. 56 (4) p. 353-359.