Proceedings of the 5th Eastern Native Grass Symposium

2006·27.5 MB·English

by  Eastern Native Grass Symposium

Historic, Archive Document
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The Fifth
/ Eastern Native Grass
Symposium
October 10-13, 2006
Harrisburg, PA
Sponsors
gO iNDSTO4y
dal,
Native « Seed
United States
Department of
Agriculture
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LIBRARY
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Front cover grass drawing courtesy of Heather Curtis, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2005.
PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
HELD IN
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
OCTOBER 10 -13, 2006
EDITOR
MATT SANDERSON
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
PAUL ADLER
SARAH GOSLEE
JERRY RITCHIE
HOWARD SKINNER
KATHY SODER
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
ALLISON KAY MOWERY
HOSTED BY
USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
USDA, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
PUBLISHED BY
OMNIPRESS
MADISON, WISCONSIN
This publication should be cited as: Author(s).2006.Title of paper.(inclusive pages).
In M. A. Sanderson et al (eds.). Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Native Grass Sympsoium,
Harrisburg, PA, October 10 -13, 2006.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS
GENERAL
ERNST CONSERVATION SEEDS
PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDIFE
ROUNDSTONE NATIVE SEED, LLC
OTHER
AMERICAN GRASS SEED PRODUCERS
KASTE SEED, INC.
PENNSYLVANIA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL
TIMM ENTERPRISES
TRUAX COMPANY, INC.
USDA, AGRICUTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
PASTURE SYSTEMS & WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH UNIT
USDI, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
EXHIBITORS
AGRECOL CORPORATION
AG-RENEWAL, INC.
BASF
ERNST CONSERVATION SEEDS
A. T. FERRELL COMPANY, INC.
FINGER LAKES CONSERVATION SERVICES
J. F. NEW
MARYLAND GRAZING LANDS CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PLANTS, INC.
PRAIRIE HABITATS, INC.
ROUNDSTONE NATIVE SEED, LLC
SHARP BROTHERS SEED COMPANY OF MISSOURI
TRUAX COMPANY, INC.
USDA, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
PASTURE SYSTEMS & WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH UNIT
USDA, FARM SERVICES AGENCY
USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
PLANT MATERIALS PROGRAM
USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
PENNSYLVANIA
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
Introduction
In February 1997 a one-day conference on native grasses in the Eastern United States was
held at the Botanical Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. After nearly ten years the meeting
has grown into a biennial three-day symposium rotating among different locations throughout
the Eastern United States. This is quite an accomplishment for an event that has no
sponsoring organization. The Eastern Native Grass Symposium is sustained by the
expanding interest in the subject and the devotion of a variety of people, from agency
technical specialists and private consultants, to growers of seed and nursery stock, to
equipment and pesticide dealers.
Presentations at the first symposium focused on native grass establishment and
management for forage production and grassland restoration. This fifth symposium is made
up of over 90 oral and poster presentations. Topics include biofuels and carbon
sequestration, biomass, cultivar and ecotype development, establishment and weed control,
forages and grazing, genetics, invasive species, reclamation and restoration, roadside
management, seed harvest and processing, and wildlife management.
Beginning with the second symposium in Baltimore, Maryland in 1999, the event has included
field trips and on-site workshops. This fifth symposium provides six choices for full-day field
trips and three workshop subjects. The second symposium was also the first time
proceedings were published. This fifth symposium is the first time the proceedings are
published in advance of the symposium.
Since the symposium was last in the Mid-Atlantic region, both the knowledge and experience
bases of native grass establishment in the Eastern United States have increased
significantly. The best management for each of the many uses of native grasses is now a
significant concem. There is a noticeable shift in the subject matter of presentations from
establishment to management.
This quote from the proceedings of the second symposium is as applicable now as is it was
seven years ago:
“Native grass use is expanding as rapidly as the seed and plant supplies of eastern sources
will allow. The recent demand for materials is being driven by both a desire to utilize native
plants to meet resource conservation objectives, and additional discovery of valuable
functions which native grasses bring to discreet habitats and the environment in general.
Native grasses bring a host of valuable traits to the conservation effort. Relatively unknown,
under-appreciated, under-researched, and therefore under-used, native grasses will
[continue to] play a powerful role in environmental improvement as use technology is
developed and institutionalized.”
The Planning Committee
iil
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
THE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Barry Isaacs, Co-Chair, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA
Chris Miller, Co-Chair, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NJ
Martin van der Grinten, Co-Chair, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NY
Calvin Ernst, Exhibits Chair, Ernst Conservation Seeds, PA
Mike Pruss, Field Trips Chair, Pennsylvania Game Commission
Paul Salon, Program Chair, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NY
Kathleen Banski, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts
Tom Barnes, University of Kentucky
Tim Dunne, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NJ
Bob Escheman, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wash., DC
Dave Lorenz, Truax Company, Inc., PA
R. Jay Ugiansky, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, MD
THE SYMPOSIUM STEERING COMMITTEE
John Dickerson, Finger Lakes Conservation Services, NY
John Englert, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, MD
Calvin Ernst, Ernst Conservation Seeds, PA
Bob Glennon, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wash., DC
Terri Hogan, USDI, National Park Service, TN
Chris Miller, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NJ
Jerry Ritchie, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, MD
Matt Sanderson, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, PA
Ray Smith, University of Kentucky
Martin van der Grinten, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NY
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
DEDICATION OF PROCEEDINGS
John A. Dickerson
Finger Lakes Conservation Services
Marcellus, New York
These Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Native Grass Symposium are dedicated to John A.
Dickerson, formerly Plant Materials Specialist, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service (retired).
John has worked to advance the knowledge of native grasses in the Eastern United States
for decades. During his career with USDA, he supported the Big Flats Plant Materials
Center, Big Flats, New York in collecting, evaluating, and releasing native grasses, and in
assisting commercial growers with their production. John tested and developed technologies
to re-vegetate sand and gravel pits in New York and throughout New England with native
grasses. He continues to exchange ideas and technology on native grass establishment and
management with people throughout the North American continent.
John has played a key role in all five of the Eastern Native Grass Symposiums, including Co-
Chairing the second symposium. And he continues to demonstrate his leadership role by
accepting responsibility to solicit a host for the Sixth Symposium to be held in 2008.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Author(s)
Title Page
Biofuels
Adler, P. R., S. J. Del Grosso, W. J. Parton, and W. E. Easterling .....0..00..0.... c.ec.e c.ec.e e.ee .ee.e ne.e e es 1
Land Use Change Effects from Cellulosic and Grain Ethanol Production under Climate Change
Fransen, s. C., H.P..Collins, and R: A. Boydston ......05..6.cccscnsesncreennseeensenca.n niddece nsisese ned neess 2
Growth of Switchgrass as Biofuel in the Pacific Northwest
McArdle, M. and D. Bransb.y. C4 228, BIGTA
The Potential for Grasses as a Feedstock itin 1 E:n ergy Applications ii nn the Eastern United States
Owens, V.N., D. Lee, and A. Boe .. ‘ cen a
Potential of Native Warm-Season Grass Monocultures and Mixtures for Bioenergy itin1 the Northern
Great Plains
Samson, R. A., C. Ho Lem andiS)Balley 2.4... 25. 2222x125). Bi eee eee ae eee 6
Developing Warm-Season Grasses as a Densified Heating Fuel
Sanderson, M. A., P. R. Adler,R . H. Skinner, and C. Dell .. age aoe eee 8
Biofuels Research ‘with Native Grasses at the USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed _
Management Research Unit, University Park, Pennsylvania
Sanderson, M. A., P. R. Adler, R. H. Skinner, and C. Dell .....00.00 cc. ec.e c0ec.e cc.c e0ce e0u ee0ueee0enee0neee es 9
Switchgrass for Biofuel, Forage, and Mushrooms
Singer, S. D.. ape te
Grass Farming for Local Energy: “Opportunities and Strategies for Utilizing Native Grasses to Deliver
Clean Energy for Today's Energy Markets
Staver K. W.. ciidi't napai ai nie satan oy = eee
Using Switchgrass iti naa Small- Scale Boiler to‘ Supplement Farm Heating Needs _
Biomass
Allen, Coand S. Thames 3.007265 either ee te cs on sos ec dee ose ean anes See Us)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Use by the Caddo Tribe for House Construction
Krizek, D. T., J. C. Ritchie, M. J. Camp, A. M. Sadeghi, and C. D. Foy ...........c.cc.c c0cc .cc0 e.ec.ee. ee.ee .ee e e Ti
Influence of Time of Stand Establishment on Biomass Production of Eastern Gamagrass
Owens, V. N., D. Lee, and A. Boe .. ‘ies
Effect ofM anure Application and Harvest Timing. on ‘Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Biomass and Seed
Production Across Landscape Position
Ritchie, J.C. D.-T..Krizek, D. C: Gitz Ill-and C. D. Foy «2.2... se). ee ee 30
A Nine-Year Study of Biomass Production by Eastern Gamagrass
vi