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Characteristics
This grass is easily identified by the prominent claw-like ligule where
the leaf blade tapers to attachment to the sheath. Seed heads are plume-like.
It is a warm-season, native perennial tall grass which reproduces from
seed and short scaly underground stems. It grows from three to eight feet tall.
Management
Yield is normally two to five tons per acre, with up to six tons per acre on
ideal sites and management practices. It is very leafy and can make good hay.
Harvest when most of the seed heads begin to emerge from the boot (generally
mid-July to mid-August). The minimum cutting height is five inches.
Prescribed burning is a highly productive management tool.
Initial grazing height is 10-12 inches, with a minimum grazing height of eight
inches. In grazing systems, the maximum use period is seven days with a minimum rest period of 30 days.
This high-producing tall grass decreaseswhen continually grazed shorter than
five to eight inches during the growing season. It is replaced by less productive
plants. Leave 10 inches of stubble at the end of summer grazing. Do not graze
30 days prior to a killing frost, unless adequaterest periods have been built-in
during the growing season.
Summary
Points
Indiangrass is excellent for summer grazing, is very nutritious and is readily
eaten by all classesof livestock. It is good for wildlife summer nesting cover
and dusting areas. It also produces on limited fertility and responds well to
nitrogen.
Varieties
for
N orthern
Missouri
Rumsey
Osage
64
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Natural
Resources
Conservation
Service
May
Columbia,
1996
Missouri
General
U se
Indian grass is a perennial, warm-season
bunchgrassnoted for its rapid growth during mid to
late summer when high temperatures slow the growth
of cool-seasongrasses. It is used mainly for livestock
forage in rangeland and pastures, and as a hay crop.
Wildlife biologists also rate Indian grass as excellent for
nesting and rearing areas. Undisturbed nesting and
hatching are possiblein pastures of this grass becausegrazing
and haying operationsare done after the prime nesting season
for most wildlife species.
Characteristics
Indian grass producesa deep,extensive root system and short
rhizomes. It can be distinguished from other native grasses,evenwhen
plants are young, by its fuzzy stem and a claw-like extension of the sheath.
When mature, it has a single, nanow, plume-like, golden seedhead.
Growth begins in late April or early May, increasing gradually with higher
temperatures. It producesabout 70 percent of its annual growth after July 1. If
undisturbed, it attains a height of five to eight feet and has goodstem strength. Mature,
unharvested stems will remain standing well into winter for increasedprotective coverfor
wildlife.
Adaptabili
ty
Indian grass has been shown to be adaptablethroughout
Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and the western halves of Kentucky and Ohio.
It is native to states east of the Rocky Mountains. Indian grass is suited to all
soils, exceptthose saturated for an extendedperiod. Deep,well-drained soils
are preferred. One variety of Indian grass recommendedfor use in Missouri is
'Rumsey.' It was releasedfor public use by the Natural ResourcesConservation
Service'sElsberry (Mo.) Plant Materials Center.
Establishment
Spring seedingsof Indian grass -in April and May -are recommended. It
should be seededin fine, firm seedbedsfree of competition. Seedbedsshould be
firmed with a roller prior to drilling or broadcastingseed. If the seedis planted
with the broadcastmethod, it also should be rolled afterward to help coverthe
seed. Seedthat is drilled should be planted one-fourth inch deep. Check with
Natural ResourcesConservation Serviceor University Extension for current
recommendedseedingrates.
N o-tillage seedingsin closely-grazedsod also have beensuccessfulwhere
control of sodis accomplishedwith proper herbicides. In addition, early spring
plantings (March and April) and fall dormant seedings(Novemberand
Indian
grass
seed
December)have been successful. They also provide
weed and soil erosion control.
Specialrangeland drills capableof seedinglight,
fluffy seedmust be used to plant unprocessedIndian
grass seed. Seedprocessedby removing the
appendageswith a debeardermay be planted with a
wide variety of commonly-used,grass-seeding
equipment.
Controlling weedsat seedingtime is important
becausegrass establishment and survival can be
suppressedby weed competition for moisture and
sunlight. Weedcontrol must by provided by tillage
during seedbedpreparation and by mowing.
Fertilizer applied during the seedingyear
usually doesnot increase stand density, but will
increaseplant vigor. To limit weed growth, nitrogen
should not be applied until mid..July,and then onlyon
stands with limited weed competition. Not more than
30 pounds of nitrogen per acre should be applied at
this time.
Stand densities of 1.5 to 2 establishedplants per
square foot in the spring of the secondyear is
adequatefor hay yields or pasture.
Management
Annual fertilizer applications of 60 pounds
nitrogen and 30 pounds each of phosphorusand
potassium per acre usually are adequatefor
maximum yields. Rates should be adjusted in
accordancewith soil tests.
Weedson established stands of Indian grass can
be minimized by maintaining the Indian grass stand's
vigor and density. Occasionaluse of approved
herbicides will reduce competition and help
restore plant vigor to an overgrazedstand.
Burning plant residues at initiation of spring
growth decreasescompetition and stimulates
growth. Fields should be burned every three
to five years. Indian grass used for wildlife
cover also should be burned onceevery three
or four years to reduce excessivemulch
accumulationsthat restrict movementof new
hatchlings and attract nest predators.
Indian grass maybe grazedwhen it
reachesa height of 14 to 16 inches. It can be
grazed continuously as long as a minimum
height of eight to twelve inches is maintained.
In managementintensive systems,grazing in
the first paddockcan begin when plants reach
a height of 10". This will prevent them from
becomingover mature beforethe rotation
reachesthe last paddock. A minimum of 6" of
residue should remain at the end of the
grazing period. The following rest period
should be long enoughto allow an
accumulation of 14-16"of growth beforebeing
regrazed. Indian grass is the latest maturing
of the three most commonwarm-season
grasses(switch grass and big bluestem are the
others). It provides excellent late-season
forage. But a fall height of 12 inches should
be attained beforefrost. It may be grazedto a
height of six to eight inches after frost. The
winter stubble is necessaryto provide
insulation.
For optimum hay quality and quantity,
Indian grass should be cut when it is at boot
stage,usually in early August.
Where
To Get Help
For more information about Indian
grass, contact the local Natural Resources
Conservation Service office. It is listed in the
telephone directory under "U .S. Government."
should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (rDD).
To file a complaint. write the Secrelary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washinglon, D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (rDD).
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