Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.)
New/Untested species, not yet recommended for some or all applications
Characteristics
- Yield based on 2 harvests/season
- Seeding date: early spring
- Tall, warm-season perennial prairie grass related to corn
- Primarily used as a hay crop
- Thick rhizomes, with a clumpy growth habit
Advantages
- very high forage quality
- high yield potential
- good tolerance of acid, droughty, and poorly-drained soils
Concerns
- management practices for NE USA not yet clear
- difficult to establish
- not adapted to continuous grazing