Welder Germplasm - Shortspike Windmillgrass

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center, Kingsville

Description

Welder Germplasm shortspike windmillgrass (Chloris × subdolichostachya Muell. (pro sp.) [cucullata × verticillata]) was collected in San Patricio County, Texas.  Shortspike windmillgrass is a naturally occurring hybrid between the native grasses Chloris cucullata and Chloris verticillata. Welder Germplasm is a cooperative release between the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program, South Texas Natives, and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Beeville. It is a perennial grass which produces seed and also spreads vegetatively by stolons. The mature foliage height ranges from 1 to 3 feet tall. It may produce seed heads from May to October, but most of the seed is produced in September and October.

Uses and Adaptation

Welder Germplasm is recommended for use in roadside plantings, critical site revegetation, and rangeland seed mixes.  It can be used in many types of conservation plantings, such as grassed waterways, riparian buffers, filter strips, and pond embankments. Welder Germplasm has performed well at locations in the Rio Grande Plain, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Rolling Plains, and Pineywoods regions of Texas. Shortspike windmillgrass also occurs naturally in the Blackland Prairie, Edwards Plateau, and Oak Woods and Prairies regions. Welder Germplasm may be adapted to these regions as well, but this has not been verified through field testing.

Planting Methods

Seedbed preparation should begin well in advance of planting. Establish a clean, weed-free seedbed by either tillage or non-residual herbicides. Prior to planting, the site should be firm and have accumulated soil moisture. Seeding should occur in early spring, or where there are few cool-season weeds, windmillgrass can be seeded in the fall.  Welder Germplasm can be seeded using a grass drill with a small seed box.  Broadcast seeding may be used in areas not easily planted with a drill, but additional practices to encourage good seed to soil contact, such as cultipacking, harrowing, etc., may be necessary. Sand can be mixed with seed to aid in distribution. There are approximately 3,000,000 seeds per pound of shortspike windmillgrass.

Seed should be planted 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. It is better to plant too shallow than too deep. A seeding rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound of pure live seed (PLS) per acre is recommended. This corresponds to planting 20 to 40 live seeds per square foot. When planting a mixture, the rate of windmillgrass should be reduced according to the total percentage desired in the mixture.

Management

Welder Germplasm shortspike windmillgrass can be grazed the first year once the stand is established.  Contact you local NRCS office to develop a grazing management plan. It is recommended that it be mowed or  grazed to a 2 to 3 inch stubble height at least once per year. Welder Germplasm should not be burned.

Availability

Welder Germplasm was released in 2006. Breeder and foundation seed will be maintained by the E. Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center in conjunction with Texas Foundation Seed Service.  Breeder seed may be obtained by contacting the PMC.

Photos

Welder Germplasm - Shortspike Windmillgrass

For More Information

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Welder Germplasm - Shortspike Windmillgrass (PDF; 1.72 MB)

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