Switchgrass and corn plot

[buckmagnet]

Here is some pics of my corn/switchgrass plots planted mid-May of this year. I gained alot of info from this site which really helped me to be successful on this project.

The total planting was 14 acres, two of which was frost seeded. Just as I started to seed in mid March the ground thawed and was just too soft to run the drill across so I planted the bulk of the switch grass in mid-May along with the corn. June was unusually cool and wet which slowed the corn growth down in my area and I was guessing would do the same to the switch. So I decided to press my luck and spray atrazine and round up in mid June. In July we finally got some hot sunny days and the switch finally popped up and has grown well ever since. Some of the switch that has went to seed is near chest high, but most is knee to waist high.

Surpisingly the ground that was worked and planted to switch in May looks better and with fewer weeds than the grass that was frost seeded in March. Most of the weed competition is from broadleafs in this area and not foxtail or other grasses so the switch is growing pretty well in this area to spite the weeds.

Now I'm trying to decide whether to harvest the corn or to leave it stand into next season and I see positves and negatives to both. If the corn stands into next spring it will be good cover and food this fall and may be easier to spot/frost seed switch in some thin spots this winter. I assume the debris left behind from the combine will cover the ground and make it more difficult to frost seed.

However if the corn is down I could spray the broadleaf weeds early next spring before the switch germinates. Another plus is that the corn is worth probably around 3-4 grand which would cover the expences of seed and chemicals quite nicely...

Dbltree whats your take on the question of harvesting the corn say in November after the switch is dormant?

 

[dbltree]

First I want to thank you for sharing the pics and examples because corn and switchgrass go perfectly together!

They both tolerate the same herbicides (especially Atrazine) and both love nitrogen!

The pictures clearly show the distinct advantage of good residual weed control in first year switchgrass growth!

Normally we can't feed switchgrass nitrogen because the N contributes to weed growth and competition, but when we take weeds out of the equation...adding nitrogen will lead to explosive first growth in the switchgrass!!

Just some other options would be to frost seed switchgrass and then no-till corn in April, burn down with roundup and Atrazine to avoid tilling HEL.

I suspect that more of your May planted switchgrass will geriminate next spring and it will really thicken up!

If corn was cheap and it was a food plot scenario I would leave it standing but 3-4 grand is to much to leave in the field.

You could check around for someone to bale the stalks or follow the combine with a brush hog type cutter to get stalks shredded and breaking down early on.

Either way you will still have plenty of bare soil to frost seed or if you can find a no-till prairiegrass drill like this Truax

It would cut thru stubble and ensure seed/soil contact without disturbing the exisiting stand to much.

If I understand you correctly you want to add seed to the area you already seeded? If it was a brand new seeding then you could also disc the stalks this fall and perhaps run a packer over it to smooth it down.

You can also re-apply another does of Atrazine next spring before weeds emerge which should take care of any other weed problems for the season.

If you have weeds after applying Atrazine...you didn't use enough.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Eventually I'll add this post to the switchgrass thread because this is very helpful information for others /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Crimson Arrows]

How much would atrazine run per acre?

 

[BOWSTRING]

Just throwing this out for you. If you have 14 acres planted maybe combine 10 or 12 acres and leave 2-4 acres for food and cover this winter. That way you get some cash to cover the expenses and you'll have a nice plot this winter.
Just an idea.

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntyak</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How much would atrazine run per acre? </div></div>

Nannyslayer could better answer that question but it used to cost me about 30 bucks an acre to have it sprayed on at 4 quarts per acre.

Much cheaper if your applying your own of course but you need a pesticide license to buy it or someone to buy it for you.

If I was applying my own I would go even heavier since this is a one time application rather then year after year like corn.

No weeds = awesome first year switchgrass! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif

 

[Crimson Arrows]

I plan on spraying next year which would be a second year stand. Would it still be worth it and who could I have do it? NRCS?

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: huntyak</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I plan on spraying next year which would be a second year stand. Would it still be worth it and who could I have do it? NRCS? </div></div>

If you have it applied in April before weeds emerge it can still be helpful.

Either have a farmer who does his own spraying or your local elevator, ag supply, fertilizer supplier.

NRCS doesn't spray anything but if you have a farmer working your farm he will know who to call. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Crimson Arrows]

Thanks. I'll have to do something as after I clipped it 3 weeks ago they fox tail came back stronger it seemed. Amazing stuff! Wish I knew about Atrazine this year but the buddy who helped me said CIR would choke it out within 2 years. Hope so /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif