The forage production and quality of 'Kaw' big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) differed depending on the frequency and intensity of repeated clipping in a 2-year Missouri field trial. Leaf crude protein declined with increasing regrowth periods and stem in vitro dry matter digestibility was unaffected by treatment, suggesting that leaf maturity has considerable affect on plant quality. Repeated clipping to 10-cm reduced total nonstructural carbohydrates significantly more than clipping to 20-cm, and stand improvement was observed in the higher stubble height plants. The authors suggest that forage production can be optimized by clipping to a short stubble height (10-cm) to encourage high quality forage, while allowing for sufficient regrowth (canopy height of 41-cm) to accumulate reserve carbohydrates.
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