Compensatory Yield Responses of Young Native Warm-Season Grass Stands to Seasonal Changes in Harvest Frequencies

Defoliation management can significantly affect subsequent grassland’s forage productivity and sustainability. To assess the type persistence of native warm-season grass (NWSG) yield responses to changes in defoliation intensity, a five-year harvest trial was conducted, randomized complete block design, at Virginia State University’s research farm. Yield newly established indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.). Nash, big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides stands second-year regimes were monitored. In 2012, seedlings these grasses transplanted clean-tilled plots, with 16 plants each pot. The field not irrigated, but broadleaf weeds manually controlled, all plots mowed August mid-November 2013. Starting June 2014, plot had three harvest-strips assigned single, two, or cuts per year from early mid-October using plot-harvester; weights recorded. Based on recorded fresh oven-dry sample weights, DM yields estimated. Cumulative biomass three-cut strips flipped single-cut increased by ≥30% >50% for bluestem. also outperformed those cut thrice since first 22–51%. increases that demonstrated flipping-triggered compensatory overshadowed first- losses plant vigor. continued to, beyond, third varied between species. showed magnitudes management–triggered NWSG growth depend more growing conditions during recovery period than its actual duration.