East Texas Plant Materials Center Hosts Field Day

By Jim Stevens, Manager of the East Texas Plant Materials Center

The East Texas Plant Materials Center hosted a field day, May 31, 2006. The field day highlighted ongoing projects at the center. Field tours were held in the morning hours during light rain and cool temperatures. Five projects were highlighted during the tour.

The first project was the use of short rotation woody crops for the utilization of phosphorus. This project’s primary objective is for water quality and utilization of phosphorus in chicken litter by eight different tree species.

The second stop highlighted a seed production field of ‘Medina’ eastern gamagrass, a cultivar that was tested and released from the center. Maximum seed yields are obtained utilizing weed control, fertilization, and irrigation.

The initial evaluation of little bluestem was discussed at the next stop. The initial evaluation involved 84 collections of little bluestem from East Texas and Louisiana. Individual plant attributes are evaluated. The evaluation data will provide information to select the best little bluestems for further testing.

Tour participants saw plant releases from other centers and their performance at the center at stop four. Also at this stop the group got to see how initial seed increase was being done for coastal prairie restoration work in Louisiana. Six different cultivars of switch grass and their performance were observed. Switch grass is a species that has been noted to have high potential for biofuel.

The center not only tests and releases plant materials for conservation uses but it also develops the technology to establish and maintain plantings of native grass species. The last stop covered a seeding rate study to determine the proper seeding rates for ‘Harrison’ Florida paspalum and ‘Crockett’ herbaceous mimosa. The seeding rates will be included in the Field Office Technical Guide for field personnel to use when making recommendations to private landowners.

Congressman Louis Gohmert was the keynote speaker for the program. He gave an excellent overview of the agricultural issues in legislation. Congressman Gohmert was also readily available during and after lunch for the concerns of his constituents.

After lunch informational sessions were held. The sessions covered planting drill calibration, constructed wetlands for rural sewage systems, site evaluation and seedbed preparation, plant selection and planting techniques. The field day participants had great interest in the information sessions as they were well attended.

Due to the efforts of many the field day was rated a great success.
 

< Back to Highlights