Get reliable rangeland science

Biomass production is often an important factor land mangers take into consideration when selecting grasses to use for rangeland restoration where livestock forage production is the primary land management goal. Non-native species such as Kleberg bluestem and Buffelgrass are generally thought to have higher biomass production than native grasses, but native species are widely regarded as a superior option for wildlife habitat. However, little information is available on the biomass production of many native grasses that are available for range seeding in South Texas. We compared biomass production of native grass germplasm seed releases with the common non-native grasses used in range seeding in southern Texas. We collected plants of native and non-native grasses at peak standing crop from the South Texas Natives Farm in Kingsville, TX. For each we sampled five randomly selected plants from established stands, clipped each to ground level, and placed collected material into a drying room until completely dried. We will present biomass production potential of each species, and comparative data on biomass production of native and non-native grasses to inform managers in selection of grasses for range seeding in South Texas.