Post-Harvest Management Practices Impact on Light Penetration and Kernza Intermediate Wheatgrass Yield Components

Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) is the first commercially developed perennial grain crop in North America, with multiple environmental and economic benefits. One of major challenges for adoption this dual-use forage decline yield subsequent harvest years. Post-harvest management practices (e.g., chopping, burning, chemical, mechanical thinning) could reduce intraspecific competition light maintain yields over time. We aimed to identify that improve penetration propose a conceptual model explain mechanisms contributing yield. applied 10 after randomized complete block design experiment three replications, at two different locations Wisconsin, USA. Light increased when post-harvest were applied. Mechanical or chemical thinning had relatively lower lodging components per row, but not area due reduction number productive rows. Threshed second year was similar among treatments despite differences vegetative biomass generated. Further research needed optimize