A plan or listing of activities for establishing and harvesting switchgrass is an essential prerequisite for preparing a switchgrass enterprise budget. The most economical method for establishing stands of switchgrass will differ across regions and soil types. The plan that follows is appropriate for cropland in the U. S. Southern Plains that is harvested in the summer or fall or for cropland pasture.

1. Conduct primary tillage in the fall prior to the spring in which the crop is to be planted.

2. Test the soil and if necessary apply the appropriate levels of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and agricultural lime.

3. Conduct secondary tillage in late winter and use a cultipacker to firm the seedbed.

4. Wait for rainfall to germinate annual weeds.

5. If weeds are present, apply glyphosate within three days after planting. In some regions some pre-emerge selective herbicides may be registered for use. For example, if registered, s-metolachlor may be applied to fields prior to switchgrass emergence if the seed has been safened with fluxofenin (Vogel et al. 2002). Vogel et al. (2002) also report using atrazine as a pre-emerge herbicide. Mitchell et al. (2012) recommend a combination of quinclorac and atrazine as pre-emerge herbicides for switchgrass establishment.

6. In April, without additional tillage, plant 5.6 kg/ha pure live switchgrass seed 0.6 to 1.3 cm deep in the firm seedbed.

7. If broadleaf weeds are present, apply a labeled post-emerge herbicide.

8. In the summer, if weeds are excessive, a mowing activity with a rotary mower may be warranted before the weeds start to canopy the switchgrass. Clipping the weeds at the top of the switchgrass may increase the probability that sunlight can reach the young switchgrass plants.

9. Exercise patience and permit the young plants to become firmly established. Do not harvest during the establishment year.

10. In late winter after the establishment year, a prescribed burn may be conducted to facilitate new growth.

11.In year 2 and all subsequent years, fertilize with an appropriate level of nitrogen at spring green up and harvest once per year. Late in the growing season, nutrients (including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) translocate from the above ground foliage to the plant’s crown and rhizomes. If harvest is delayed until after the first frost and the initiation of senescence, biomass yield will be maximized and nutrients will have translocated, reducing the quantity of fertilizer needed for biomass production in subsequent years (Madakadze et al. 1999; Sanderson et al. 1999; Reynolds et al. 2000; Vogel et al. 2002; Adler et al. 2006; Guretzky et al. 2011).

Weed control is an important factor in crop production and especially in switchgrass establishment. Weed competition can be reduced by using labeled herbicides or by tilling in the fall and again in the spring prior to planting. Broadleaf selective herbicides may be used to control most broadleaf weeds in stands of young switchgrass. However, grassy weeds can be more problematic. As noted in step 8, if weeds are excessive, a summer mowing activity with a rotary mower may be warranted before the weeds start to canopy the switchgrass. Clipping the weeds at the top of the switchgrass is a strategy designed to enable sunlight to reach the young switchgrass plants. Table 1 includes a listing of the field operations budgeted for switchgrass establishment with conventional tillage. Steps for establishing switchgrass in fields previously used to produce winter annuals such as wheat, barley, or rye are also included in Table 1.

Table 2 includes a listing of field operations that may be used to establish switchgrass without tillage. Adequate soil fertility, weed control, and an effective no-till drill are critical components of successful no-till switchgrass establishment.