Ron Cordsiemon, Elsberry PMC Soil Conservationist

Little bluestem ( scoparium) is one from southern Illinois and southern of the primary warm season grasses found Missouri have been evaluated and selected for throughout the tallgrass . Native to North superior quality. Below are the plants that were America, little bluestem is one of the most selected for the southern region release, now aesthetically pleasing grasses among the prairie known as Ozark Germplasm little bluestem. species. A major component, little bluestem made up as much as 50 percent of the Elsberry PMC service area (Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri). Currently, there Key Image 2 are no varieties of little bluestem on the market that have an origin within the Elsberry Material Center three-state service area. The available varieties do not always perform as well as expected.

Flowering Little Bluestem Seedheads Key Image 4

Vegetative material from native ecotype populations were collected throughout the states of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. A minimum of three collections for each Major Land Resource Area/state was requested. Field selection of collected plant Key Image 1 material (11 collections) was based on forage quantity and plant vigor. Collections were evaluated against each other for superior forage characteristics Figure 4. 1999 – 2000 Plant Evaluations at the Elsberry PMC. Selections were made from these evaluations.

The commercial release of the northern and An individual plant southern (Ozark Germplasm) little bluestem of Ozark selections will give landowners and operators Ozark Germplasm Reaching 5 Feet In Height Germplasm little within the midwest region another, potentially bluestem better, option for a native grass. Conservation (Schizachyrium scoparium) is programs, wildlife cover and forage plantings for shown growing in livestock, as well as roadside plantings and and enhancement projects are some of The objective of this project is to assemble, a seed production field at the the uses these two releases will address. evaluate, develop and release an adapted variety Elsberry PMC. and/or varieties of tested class little bluestem for Key Image 3 Selections were conservation use in the midwest region of the United made based on States. The Elsberry PMC has proposed a selection their superior Flora of Missouri; p.244 (Seventh Printing, 1996), from both the northern and southern regions of the forage quality, dry Steyermark, J.A.; Iowa State University Press, Ames, PMC service area. matter yield, IA 1968. regrowth, late Manual of Grasses of the United States; pp. 753-755, maturity, and plant Hitchcock, A.S., USDA, Washington, DC, 1951. vigor. Forages; p. 514, Hughes, H.D.; Heath, M.E.; Metcalfe, D.S., The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa, 1951.