Mariah Germplasm- Hooded Windmillgrass

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center, Kingsville

Description

Mariah Germplasm hooded windmillgrass (Chloris cucullata Bisch.) was collected in Kenedy County, Texas.  Mariah Germplasm is a cooperative release between the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program, South Texas Natives, and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Beeville. Hooded windmillgrass is a native, perennial
bunchgrass with a mature foliage height ranging from 0.5 to 1 foot. It produces seed heads from May through October.  However, unlike most hoodedwindmillgrass populations, MariahGermplasm also spreads vegetatively by stolons.

Uses and Adaptation

Mariah 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. Mariah Germplasm has performed well at locations in the Rio Grande Plain,
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Rolling Plains, and Pineywoods regions of Texas. Hooded windmillgrass also occurs naturally in the Edwards Plateau and Trans Pecos regions. Mariah 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. Mariah 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 2,500,000 seeds per pound of hooded 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 1/3 to 2/3 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

Mariah Germplasm hooded 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. Mariah Germplasm should not be burned.

Availability

Mariah 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

Mariah Germplasm- Hooded Windmillgrass

For More Information

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Mariah Germplasm- Hooded Windmillgrass (PDF; 1.72 MB)