Integrated Management Practices for Establishing Upland Switchgrass Varieties

Establishment of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is challenging, and failure in establishment may expose growers to considerable economic risk. The objectives this research were (i) evaluate whether management practices are variety-specific for the (ii) assess effectiveness cover crops as preceding on ‘Shawnee’ establishment. Therefore, two studies conducted at University Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station Deerfield, MA, USA, 2011–2012 2012–2013 growing seasons. In 1, crop treatments (fallow, oat (Avena sativa rye (Secale cereale L.)) main plots, seeding methods (no-till drill a cultipacker seeder (Brillion)) sub-plots, varieties (‘Cave-in-Rock’ (CIR) Shawnee)) sub-sub-plots. second study was using Shawnee involved three used 1 with seed firming prior planting but not afterwards (consistent both experiments). results indicated that combination no-till resulted higher tiller density (493%), lower weed biomass (77%), increased (SGB) (283%) SGB (WB) ratio. Compared Shawnee, CIR planted into winter-killed residue had (93%), (18%), yield (128%) thus greater SGB:WB ratio (507%). Trends response practices, however, similar between varieties, indicating quality rather than could influence switchgrass’s practices. 2, suppressed by crop, possibly due late termination rye. yields below 1000 kg ha−1 under all practices; thus, harvesting should happen year following Future focus comparing drilling rolling only before after increase seed–soil contact.