17 Facts About Switchgrass

Switchgrass is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie and can be found in remnant prairies, in native grass pastures, and naturalized along roadsides.

Switchgrass is a hardy, deep-rooted, perennial rhizomatous grass that begins growth in late spring.

Switchgrass uses C4 carbon fixation, giving it an advantage in conditions of drought and high temperature.

Switchgrass is both a perennial and self-seeding crop, which means farmers do not have to plant and reseed after annual harvesting.

Switchgrass is a diverse species, with striking differences between plants.

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Switchgrass has two distinct forms, or "cytotypes": the lowland cultivars, which tend to produce more biomass, and the upland cultivars, which are generally of more northern origin, more cold-tolerant, and therefore usually preferred in northern areas.

Switchgrass can be grown on land considered unsuitable for row crop production, including land that is too erodible for corn production, as well as sandy and gravelly soils in humid regions that typically produce low yields of other farm crops.

Switchgrass stands that are initially weedy commonly become well established with appropriate management in subsequent years.

Switchgrass can be harvested with the same field equipment used for hay production, and it is well-suited to baling or bulk field harvesting.

Switchgrass can be used as a feedstock for biomass energy production, as ground cover for soil conservation, and to control erosion, for forages and grazing, as game cover, and as feedstock for biodegradable plastics.

Switchgrass has been researched as a renewable bioenergy crop since the mid-1980s, because it is a native perennial warm season grass with the ability to produce moderate to high yields on marginal farmlands.

Switchgrass has been widely tested as a substitute for coal in power generation.

Switchgrass is being used to heat small industrial and farm buildings in Germany and China through a process used to make a low quality natural gas substitute.

Switchgrass is useful for soil conservation and amendment, particularly in the United States and Canada, where switchgrass is endemic.

Switchgrass has a deep fibrous root system – nearly as deep as the plant is tall.

Switchgrass is an excellent forage for cattle; however, it has shown toxicity in horses, sheep, and goats through chemical compounds known as saponins, which cause photosensitivity and liver damage in these animals.

Switchgrass is well known among wildlife conservationists as good forage and habitat for upland game bird species, such as pheasant, quail, grouse, and wild turkey, and song birds, with its plentiful small seeds and tall cover.