Ic. Madakadze et al., Cutting frequency and nitrogen fertilization effects on yield and nitrogenconcentration of switchgrass in a short season area, CROP SCI, 39(2), 1999, pp. 552-557
Adapted warm season grasses have potential for both summer forage and bioma
ss production in eastern Canada, A field study was conducted in 1995 and 19
96 to determine the response of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cv, Cave-
in-Rock, Pathfinder, and Sunburst to nitrogen (N) fertilization at 0, 75, o
r 150 kg ha(-1) and three harvest schedules in a short season area. The gra
ss was harvested at 4- or 6-wk intervals or left uncut until the end of the
season, These treatments were combined in a split-plot design in each of t
hree blocks on a St. Bernard sandy clay loam (Typic Hapludalf). Herbage yie
ld and herbage N concentration were determined at each harvest for the cutt
ing schedules. Herbage yields revealed a cultivar x N x harvest schedule in
teraction in 1996, while in 1995 only the two-way interactions beta een cul
tivar x harvest schedule and N x harvest schedule were evident (P < 0.05),
Total yield ranking for the harvest regimes was uncut > 6-wk > 4-wk with th
eir respective mean yields being 11, 10, and 8 Mg ha(-1) for Cave-in-Rock;
10, 8, and 6 Mg ha(-1) fur Pathfinder and 11, 8, and 7 Mg ha(-1) for Sunbur
st. Nitrogen concentrations increased with fertilization and varied with ha
rvest and year but not with cultivar, Mean N concentrations were 12.41 13.9
, and 15.4 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM) for the 0, 75, and 150 kg ha(-1) N leve
ls, respectively, under the 4-wk system. Corresponding values were 10.1, 11
.6, and 12.9 g kg(-1) for the 6-wk system, End of season N concentrations f
or the uncut regime averaged 5.4, 6.0, and 7.6 g kg(-1) DM In increasing or
der of N fertilization, The results indicate that switchgrass has potential
in both grazed or hay Forage systems in eastern Canada.