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Legume
Legume Seed | Alfalfa | Alsike Clover | Birdsfoot Trefoil | Crownvetch | Hairyvetch |
Ladino Clover | Korean Lespedeza | Red Clover | Sweetclover | White Dutch Clove

Grass
Grass Seed | Orchardgrass | Tall Fescue | Perennial Ryegrass | K. Bluegrass | Timothy | Reed Canarygrass
Smooth Bromegrass | Big  Bluestem | Switchgrass | Indiangrass | Sorghum  X  Sudan | Sudangrass

SwitchgrassPanicum virgatum L.

switch2_field.JPG (25927 bytes)

Longevity:

Perennial
Palatability:

Medium
Winter Hardiness:

Good
Growth Habit:

Bunchlike, short rhizomes.
Drought Tolerance:

Good
Cool or Warm Season:

Warm
Use and Comments:

High-yielding, warm season pasture and hay, wildlife cover.
Distribution in U.S.:

Great Plains and Midwest.
Height:
 3-6 feet.
Round.
Leaves:
 Small nest of hair where blade attaches to sheath.
Inflorescence:
 Open panicle.

Sw1_plant.JPG (16083 bytes)

Sw3_stem.JPG (9665 bytes)
switch_root.JPG (15906 bytes)

Sw2_head.JPG (10587 bytes)

Soil
Drainage:
 Somewhat Poorly Drained
Fertility:
 Low-Medium
pH:
 5.4-8.2
 
 
Seed
Color:
 Floret shiny greenish-tan; bare caryopsis gray
Shape:
 Pointed column.
Other Characteristics:
 --
Pounds Per Bushel:
 40
Seeds Per Pound:
 389,000
Seeding Rate:
 5-8 pounds PLS per acre.
Seeding Date (Indiana):
 Apr 15-May 30
Emergence Time (Days):
 21
Optimum Germ. Temp. (F):
 60-70

switchgrass_seed.JPG (20486 bytes)

 

For more forage information contact Dr. Keith Johnson: johnsonk@purdue.edu

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