Andropogon (gerardii)

John M. Englert USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road Beltsville, Maryland 20705 (301) 504-8175 (301) 504-8741 (fax) john.englert@wdc.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass Family
Scientific Name:	Andropogon gerardii Vitman
Common Name:	Big bluestem
Species Code:	ANDGER
Ecotype:	Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, Cades Cove, 1700' elevation
General Distribution:	Andropogon gerardii is distributed from Quebec and Main west of Saskatchewan and Montana, and south to Utah, Mexico, and Florida; it grows in dry soil, prairies, and open woods.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Stock Type:	Container plug
Time To Grow:	14 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Height: 8-10" after cutbacks at outplanting; multiple stems. Root System: Full, firm plug which retains shape and leaves no residual soil when pulled.
Propagule Collection:	Collected in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee by F. Langdon 10/29/94, National Park Service staff 10/8-23/97, 10/6-20/98, 9/27-10/6/99.
Propagule Processing:	Germination: 1997 seed (test) 20.75%. 1998 at 6.25%. Plugs produced per gram of seed ranged from 39 (1999) to 64 (1998). Purity: 1997 seed = 28%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: 2-4 weeks of cold stratification (@40 F, 35% humidity) may improve uniformity of germination. Most critical factors for germination and growth appear to be greenhouse temperature and amount and intensity of daytime solar. Green house grown A. gerardii seedlings haven't germinated well or thrived in wet, cloudy weather or when night temperatures dip below 65 F.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Greenhouse with alternating day/night temperatures (set at 75/68F) and 12-14 hours of daylight extended with high-pressure sodium lights. Container Type and Volume: Seed is sown in 392 plug trays; seedlings transplanted to 72 plug trays or Ropak multipots depending on whether outplanted mechanically or hand-dibbled. Growing Media: Seeds are sown in Fafard Germinating Mix. Seedlings are transplanted into a 2:1 mix of Sunshine #5:Compro, (1 bals Sunshine, 2 bags Compro) with 180 Nutricote Total 18-6-8 SR @ 0.15lb/cu ft mix. Compro is used to prevent chlorosis in some warm season grass seedlings grown in soilless mixes.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: Sown 11/23, stratified 2 weeks in cooler, placed on bench 12/8. Emergence and Date: First germination occurred approx. 5-7 days after placing on bench. 50% of total seedlings had emerged by 3 weeks and all had germinated by 35-42 days. Second sowings have been necessary to reach target number. Sowing/Planting Technique: Seed is hand-sown into plug flats at a rated computed to reach goal and compensate for low purity and germination. Flats are treated with a fungicide drench (Triathlon or Captan), covered in plastic and stratified in cooler at 40 F, 35% humidity for 2-4 weeks. Flats are removed to greenhouse benches and placed under mist or covered with light, clear plastic and kept evenly moist until germinated. Establishment Phase: Seedlings are transplanted to 72 plug flats or Ropak multi pots 30-45 days after germination. Post-transplant seedlings have experienced slow growth and up to 20% mortality. (Possible causes: low light and temperatures during winter, media too moist, or root damage from transplanting or fungus gnats.)
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: Occurs when greenhouse solar levels increase in the spring. Established plugs are cut back periodically to 6-8" to enhance root and stem growth and to manually eliminate insect pests. Plugs are fertilized as needed (every 1-2 weeks) with Technigro 16-17-17 Plus, @100 ppm.
Hardening Phase:	Hardening Phase: 2-3 weeks prior to out-planting, fertilization is stopped, watering is decreased, and greenhouse temperatures are reduced or plugs are moved outdoors.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seed Processing: Seed storage: seed bags in cooler @ 40 F, 35% relative humidity. Harvest Date: If winter-grown, ready for out-planting about 14 weeks after seedlings germinate. Storage Conditions: N/A
Other Comments:	Comments: Heavy seeding is needed to compensate for low germination. Compro has been added to the soil mix to prevent chlorosis that occurs in several species of warm season grasses grown in soilless media. Actino-iron, organic matter and other mixes are being evaluated as a substitute for Compro.
References:	Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Hitchcock, 2nd edition, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1050.

Citation:

Kujawski, Jennifer L.; Davis, Kathy M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Andropogon gerardii Vitman plants Container plug; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/11/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.