Improving the Sustainability of Switchgrass Establishment Through the Development of Cultivars with Improved Germination

View the project final report

• 2010 annual report
• 2011 annual report

Commodities

• Additional Plants: native plants

Practices

• Education and Training: extension
• Energy: bioenergy and biofuels
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a C4 perennial warm-season grass native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States and chosen as a model bioenergy feedstock species by the Department of Energy due to its high productivity across a wide geographic range, suitability for marginal land, low water and nutrient requirements, and positive environmental benefits. However, poor germination resulting in slow and inconsistent establishment and heavy weed competition is a major limitation to the successful adoption of this bioenergy crop. Currently herbicide applications are used to reduce weed competition during the establishment period and unfortunately do not completely guarantee successful stand establishment. It has been demonstrated that larger and heavier switchgrass seed has improved germination and emergence. The purpose of this project is to select switchgrass for heavier seed (compared to lighter seed) in an effort to improve germination, seedling vigor and stand establishment without the use of herbicides. A gravity deck will be used to separate seed of three switchgrass cultivars into heavy and light weight classes for two cycles of selection. All selection cycles will be compared for germination percent to determine if selection for heavy seed improves germination in switchgrass. This research should result in switchgrass cultivars with improved germination requiring less herbicides during establishment. A reduction in herbicide use will result in reduced health risks and environmental benefits, reduce the cost of production, increase the productivity and income and improve the quality of life of farmers by improving the production of a sustainable bioenergy crop.

1. To determine whether selecting for heavy seed improves germination and emergence in three cultivars of switchgrass.
2. To develop cultivars with improved establishment without the use of herbicides.
3. To disseminate results in the form field day seminars, a peer-reviewed journal article and fact sheets regarding switchgrass establishment.

• Schematic diagram of selection for seed weight classes and cycles of selection for switchgrass populations