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Cutting Frequency and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Yield and Nitrogen Concentration of Switchgrass in a Short Season Area

Plant Sci. Dep., Univ. of McGill, 21-111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9
Agric. and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2

^* Corresponding author (dsmith{at}agradm.lan.mcgill.ca).

Adapted warm season grasses have potential for both summer forage and biomass production in eastern Canada. A field study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine the response of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cv. Cave-in-Rock, Pathfinder, and Sunburst to nitrogen (N) fertilization at 0,75, or 150 kg ha^–1 and three harvest schedules in a short season area. The grass 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 three blocks on a St. Bernard sandy clay loam (Typic Hapludalf). Herbage yield and herbage N concentration were determined at each harvest for the cutting schedules. Herbage yields revealed a cultivar x N x harvest schedule interaction in 1996, while in 1995 only the two-way interactions between cultivar 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 their respective mean yields being 11,10, and 8 Mg ha^–1 for Cave-in-Rock; 10,8, and 6 Mg ha^–1 for Pathfinder and 11,8, and 7 Mg ha^–1 for Sunburst. Nitrogen concentrations increased with fertilization and varied with harvest and year, but not with cultivar. Mean N concentrations were 12.4, 13.9, and 15.4 g kg^–1 dry matter (DM) for the 0, 75, and 150 kg ha^–1 N levels, 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 for the uncut regime averaged 5.4, 6.0, and 7.6 g kg^–1 DM in increasing order of N fertilization. The results indicate that switchgrass has potential in both grazed or hay forage systems in eastern Canada.

Received for publication December 29, 1997.

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