Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman)

Characteristics

• Yield based on 2 harvests/season
• Seeds/pound: 165,000
• Seeding rate: 10-12 lbs pure live seed/acre
• Seeding date: early spring, late summer before August 15
• Warm-season grass with most of growth in mid-summer
• Unacceptable forage quality for ruminants in NYS
• Erosion control for sand and gravel pits, mine spoil, and roadsides, cover for wildlife

Advantages

• good yield potential
• tolerates low fertility, acid soils

Concerns

• unacceptably low forage quality
• fluffy seed difficult to sow
• loses forage quality rapidly
• slow to establish
• must be grown in separate pastures
• intolerant of poorly-drained soils
• poor shade tolerance

More information

• USDA Plant Fact Sheet
• USDA Plant Guide
• Warm-Season Grass Establishment
• Big Bluestem (Ernst)