U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research: Lincoln, NE
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Lincoln, Nebraska Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Schmer, Martyitem
                                            Mitchell, Robert

                                                         - *Rob*item
                                            Vogel, Kenneth
  Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2003
                                    Publication  Date: 2/1/2004
                                    Citation: Schmer, M.R., Mitchell, R., Vogel, K.P. 2004. Estimating switchgrass standing crop with visual obstruction and elongated leaf height. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. #299.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: A method to accurately and efficiently estimate standing crop on switchgrass fields grown for bioenergy is needed.  The objective was to evaluate visual obstruction and elongated leaf height as estimators of standing crop.  The study was conducted on eight switchgrass fields in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota and on small plots in eastern Nebraska.  Switchgrass standing crop was estimated in spring and late summer from clipped quadrats in 18 switchgrass fields and machine-harvested passes in 18 plots.  Visual obstruction and elongated leaf height means were compared to the standing crop estimates from the clipped and harvested plots.  Switchgrass standing crop ranged from 0.55 to 12.6 Mg ha-1.  Visual obstruction and elongated leaf height accounted for 81% and 80% of the variation in standing crop on the hand-harvested fields, respectively.  Visual obstruction and elongated leaf height accounted for 95% and 90% of the variation in standing crop on the machine-harvested plots, respectively.  Height to the bottom of the panicle accounted for 86% of the variation in standing crop on the machine-harvested plots.  Visual obstruction and elongated leaf height were strongly correlated (r2 = 0.91).   Visual obstruction, elongated leaf height, and height to the bottom of the panicle appear to be accurate estimators of switchgrass standing crop.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov