Sorghastrum (nutans)

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:	Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash
Common Name:	Indiangrass
Species Code:	SORNUT
Ecotype:	Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, 1720' elevation, Cades Cove.
General Distribution:	Sorghastrum nutans is distributed from Quebec and Maine west to Manitoba, North Dakota, and Utah, and south to Arizona, Mexico, and Florida; it grows in prairies, open woods, and dry slopes.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	Container plugs
Time To Grow:	12 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Plug container seedling. Height: 8-10" after cutbacks at outplanting; multiple stems. Root System: Full, firm plug which leaves no loose soil when pulled full.
Propagule Collection:	Collected in Great Smoky Mountains National Park by National Park Service staff on 10/26-29/94, 10/2-31/96, 10/8-16/97, 9/28-10/20/98 and 9/27/99; National Plant Materials Center by D.Dusty 11/12/96, 10/29/97, and 11/28/98.
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Seed is harvested with a combine, and is cleaned using a debearder and 2-screen clipper. Seed storage: in seed bags in cooler @ 40F, 35% relative humidity. Seeds/Kg: 710,000. Germination: 25-33% (test) depending on seed year. Greenhouse germination has varied from 5-13% and from 32 to 53 plugs/gram of seed (see seed treatment).
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatments: None. Some improvement in germination may be seen with 3-4 weeks of cold stratification @ 40 F. However, time of germination was drastically reduced without cold stratification by covering seeded plug trays with clear, light-weight plastic and exposing them to full sunlight in the greenhouse. Media was kept continually moist by misting under the plastic as needed. Plastic was removed when about 50% of target number of seedlings had germinated (7-10 days). Target germination was reached by day 14 VS. 35 days when plastic was not used. Production was increased from 32 to 53 finished plugs per gram of seed.
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. Seed Propagation Method: Hand sown in germination plug trays. Container Type and Volume: Seeds are sown in 392 plug trays; seedlings are transplanted to either 72 plug trays or Ropak multipots depending whether out-planted 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 bale Sunshine, 2 bags Compro) with 180 day Nutricote Total 18-6-8 SR incorporated @ 20 oz./batch of mix (0.15lb/cu ft mix). Compro is used to prevent chlorosis in Indiangrass that is grown in soilless mix. Other organic substitutes for Compro are being evaluated.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: December, January or February depending on outplanting date. Emergence and Date: See "seed treatments". Sowing/Planting Technique: Seeds are hand-sown heavily into 392 plug trays at a rate computed to produce target number of plugs and compensate for low germination rate. Seeds are lightly covered with germination mix, and watered. The plug trays are covered with clear lightweight plastic (see seed treatment). Establishment Phase: Seedlings in germination trays are kept continually moist. They are transplanted to 72 plug flats or Ropak multipots, usually when plugs can be pulled, however seedlings have been dug and transplanted within several days of germination resulting in more uniform maturation of plugs. Avoid over-watering transplants. Wet media containing organic matter attracts fungus gnats and promotes algae growth and crusting on soil surface.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: S. nutans plugs grow rapidly after transplant when greenhouse solar levels increase in the spring (March). 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, water is decreased, and greenhouse temperatures are reduced or plugs are moved outdoors.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time to Harvest: About 10-12 weeks from germination to finished plug. If second sowings are required to meet goal, staggered maturation of plugs will result. Harvest Date: Plugs are ready for out-planting about 10-12 weeks after seedlings germinate. Storage Conditions: N/A. Plugs are seeded in winter and outplanted the same spring.
Other Comments:	Low germination of seed in the greenhouse (between 5 and 13%) requires extremely heavy sowing to produce a park target of 2,000 to 4,000 plugs. Germination seems to vary depending on amount of natural solar in greenhouse. However, the use of plastic with exposure to full sun resulted in more rapid and increased germination. Have not tried summer sowing and over-wintering established plugs in cool storage for planting the following spring.
References:	Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Hitchcock, 2nd edition, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950.

Citation:

Kujawski, Jennifer L.; Davis, Kathy M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash plants Container plugs; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.