Pilgrim Germplasm Velvet Panicum

East Texas Plant Materials Center

Conservation Use

This plant has potential for use in revegetation of critical areas. This species provides a source of food for songbirds, small mammals, and game birds. The basal rosette provides winter forage for wild turkey and white-tailed deer.

Description

Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum produces a basal rosette during winter with stems developing in the spring. It has erect coarse stems up to 4.5 feet tall. The gray-green stems and leaves are covered with fine hairs. The leaves of Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum vary in size from ½ to ¾ inch wide and 2 to 6 inches long.

Adaptation

Dichanthelium scoparium is adapted to coarse and medium textured soils with a pH of 4.5 to 7.5. Precipitation for this species ranges from 30 to 50 inches per year. This species is shade tolerant and found in woodlands and low moist ditches. Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum is potentially adapted for use in the southeastern United States.

Establishment

Fertilize planting area according to soil test for establishment. Maintain fertility levels at medium conditions and soil pH near 6.0. To reduce weed competition, do not over apply nitrogen.

Plant less than ½ inch deep in a prepared firm seedbed during the fall. Seed should be planted using a drop seeder equipped with front and rear cultipackers at a rate of 3.0 pounds of pure live seed per acre.

Management

Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum produces 2 seed crops per year: an open seed panicle in the summer (May to June) and a closed seed panicle in the fall. Summer seed harvest can be completed using a flail vac or combine.

The seeds produced in the fall are found in the spikelet sheath and can be harvested with a combine.

Seed Production and Cleaning

When managing for seed production, mow in the spring to remove previous year’s growth.

The optimum fertilizer rate for Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum is not known; however, studies using Dichanthelium clandestinum indicate fertilizing may decrease seed production.

At the East Texas PMC, summer flail vac harvesting yielded 35 pounds of cleaned seed per acre.

Dry harvested seed before being cleaned and stored. Seed is cleaned using a Clipper® seed cleaner with a 6/64 top screen and a 1/23 bottom screen with very little air flow.

Availability

Commercial seed growers interested in producing Pilgrim Germplasm velvet panicum should contact the Texas Foundation Seed Service to obtain seed.

For More Information

USDA-NRCS
East Texas Plant Materials Center
6598 FM 2782
Nacogdoches, Texas 75964

Phone: 936.564.4873
Fax: 936.552.7924

Photos:

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Pilgrim Germplasm Velvet Panicum

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