May 2006 

The NRCS Plant Materials Program newsletter for the conservation community 

Switchgrass Isn’t Just for Growing Anymore 

During the State of the Union Address last January, 

President Bush made a passing reference to a little 

known grass that has the potential to produce enormous 

energy. That now famous grass’ popular name is 

switchgrass. 

The president’s reference has put switchgrass at the 

center of much of the bio-fuel debate gripping the 

nation. But unbeknownst to 

generation. In fact, many Plant Materials Centers 

(PMCs) test grow switchgrass, and it is in some regions, 

especially at the Manhattan, Kansas PMC, one of the 

easiest crops to establish. 

“Not everyone shares the view that switchgrass is easy 

to grow,” said John Row, a plant materials scientist at 

the Kansas PMC. “However, in recent years, with all the 

talk about biofuels, concerns 

many, switchgrass has been have been raised regarding 

grown, and its energy potential producers being able to establish 

has been known, throughout a stand of switchgrass.” 

America for generations. To 

understand the use of switchgrass But John Englert says that 

for generating energy all one despite the few complaints about 

needs to do is stand near the switchgrass it is relatively easy to 

plant during a burn to feel the grow as long as a few guidelines 

intense heat it produces (a burn are followed. 

is when farmers and ranchers Research has shown that a 

burn fields to spur on new number of factors need to be 

growth). considered when planting 

switchgrass. Seeding depth, soil 

“Compared with the heat emitted type, soil temperature, soil pH, 

from other grasses during a burn, Switchgrass seed size and seed dormancy are 

switchgrass is the most intense,” factors one must consider. 

says National Plant Materials Center Manager John 

Englert, who overseas burns at the center’s Beltsville, There are also varietal differences and environmental 

Maryland facility. “But it’s important to remember that factors when it comes to seed size and seed dormancy. 

switchgrass is king in many conservation uses from Soil temperatures ranging between 25°C to 35°C and 

grazing, wildlife, erosion control and even bio soil pH between 5.0 and 8.0 are thought to be ideal for 

sequestration.” germination success in switchgrass. The lighter textured 

soils are also an advantage to emerging seedlings. 

And switchgrass may one day be king in bio-fuel energy 

production as well. It may seem far-fetched, but But whether or not it easy or hard to grow switchgrass 

consider the growing attention being paid to bioenergy. there’s little doubt among energy experts that, with 

With oil reaching record prices, almost everyday we are dwindling oil supplies and rising consumption from 

hearing about the new attention powerful industries are China and India, oil will continue to get more expensive 

paying to bio fuels and their potential to wean us from and farmers may just find themselves sitting on grass 

our oil dependency. gold. 

Fortunately for us switchgrass is a perennial grass that 

can be grown on millions of acres of land. And because 

of high gas prices at the pump it now has the potential of 

becoming a profitable agricultural crop for energy 

Contact: John Row John.Row@ks.usda.gov 

Contact: John Englert 

John.Englert@md.usda.gov 

Plant Materials Program

Visit us: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov 
National Plant Materials Center Selects Chesapeake Bay for 

Recognition During National Wetlands Month 

With watersheds from six states pouring into it Although much hard work still needs to be done to

everyday, the Chesapeake Bay is our nation’s clean the Bay, over the years agriculture has been 

largest estuary, and an endangered wetland. doing its part to lessen pollution. And, since May is 

National Wetlands 

The states that affect the Month, the staff at the

health of the Bay are National Plant Materials 

Virginia, West Virginia, Center would like to 

Maryland, Delaware, acknowledge the hard

Pennsylvania and New work of those in the 

York. In each of these agricultural community 

states the largest land who are voluntarily

use is by far agriculture. making a positive 

Because of this, much impact on keeping the 

of the water runoff that Bay clean and healthy

comes from these farms for all to enjoy.

could contain large 

amounts of fertilizers Through the NRCS’

and pesticides which many voluntary Farm 

ultimately find their Canadian geese rest on Chesapeake Bay wetlands on Bill programs the 

way into the Bay. Maryland's Eastern Shore farmers of the 

Chesapeake Bay have

The accumulated effects of this water runoff results demonstrated a stewardship that has allowed the 

in high nitrogen levels which, when heated by the NRCS to continue Helping People Help the Land. sun during the summer months, creates algae 

blooms which can be miles across and can suffocate 

wildlife in the waters of the Bay. Form more information on Farm Bill programs 

go to:

To ameliorate this process the NRCS works with http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/ 

farmers in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay to 2002/index.html

encourage them to install conservation practices, 

such as riparian buffers and other cost saving Contact: Robert Westover, Public Affairs 

conservation practices that encourage infiltration of Specialist, NRCS Plant Materials Program, 

much of the water runoff. Robert.Westover@md.usda.gov 

Our Mission Statement: Deliver plant-science technology to meet the nation’s natural resources conservation needs. 

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Visit us: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov