Eastern Gamagrass

Product Description

General Description:

Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dacctyloides) is an upright, tall, perennial bunchgrass. It grows between four and eight feet tall with a dense root system of knotted rhizomes. The root system of the Eastern Gamagrass is very extensive, growing as deep as 20 feet. The plant is also rooted down/anchored with corms– short, swollen stems that grow vertically into the soil. While the root system is very well developed, the stems of the plant grow very tall and upright with very flat, wide leaves and a well-defined mid rib.

Interestingly, Eastern Gamagrass is a distant relative of corn and shares the same characteristics in that the Gamagrass also has separate male and female flowers. However, unlike corn, each Gamagrass spike contains both male and female flowers. Male flowers occupy the top 3/4 of the spike and female flower take the bottom 1/4.

Uses:

Eastern Gamagrass is mainly used as a forage crop (for hay, pasture and silage) and erosion control but can also be used for lawn type situations. As a pasture grass, Gamagrass is very nutritious and palatable. In fact, the grass is palatable enough that close management is required for sustainable success of the pasture. Because of its forage quality, Eastern Gamagrass can be used as an important component of feed programs for many beef and dairy operations. The crude protein levels of Gamagrass, during the boot stage, averages about 12.5. Average daily gains of steers that graze on Gamagrass ranged between 1.1 to 2.2 lb per day (studies were conducted across many operations throughout the mid-southern states).

Because of the palatability of the Gamagrass, it is recommended that it is planted in a monoculture setting, to avoid complete elimination in a mix.

Planting Conditions:

Eastern Gamagrass is known to persist in the Eastern half of the United States. Gamagrass flourishes in conditions where annual precipitation exceeds 35 inches of annual precipitation, but has been seed to survive in good soils with as little as 25 inches of precipitation. Under irrigation, Gamagrass can be grown in areas with lower annual precipitation.

Eastern Gamagrass is more likely to survive in lower pH and neutral soil than it is high pH soils. This grass has been found in soils as low as a 5.1 pH and upwards of 8.0pH. Gamagrass is intolerant of saline type soil conditions. Although it is able to grow in a variety of soil types, Gamagrass prefers moderately well-drained and poorly-drained soil types. It prefers full sunlight but can survive in partial shade.

Establishment:

Cold stratification is critical to the seeds germination. Gramagrass has a hard shell that can be difficult to break so we do recommend a cold stratification or planting for easier germination of the seed. Dormant planting can be done when soil temperatures are below 50 degrees F. For manual cold stratification, it is suggested that the seeds are exposed to cold, wet conditions for 3-10 weeks prior to spring planting. Once planted, the soil must remain moist for seed germination. (Please refer to NRCS document attached below for more information)

Annual weed control in important during the establishment of Eastern Gamagrass. It is important to delay nitrogen fertilization until after the Gamagrass has established, to deter additional weeds from growing and establishing.

Eastern Gamagrass should be planted between 1/2″ – 1 ” deep.

Seeding Rate:

Pasture Seeding rate: 10-15 pounds per acre

Lawn Seeding Rate: 1 pound per 2,000 sq.ft.

For more information regarding Eastern Gamagrass, please refer to the NRCS Spec Sheet: https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_trda3.pdf