Big Bluestem

Ethnobotanical

studies in the American Southwest III. The ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and mescalero Apache. University of New Mexico Bulletin 4(5): 1-63, Pp. 36-40. Gilmore, M.R. 1919. Uses of plants by the Indians of the Missouri River region. SI-BAE Annual Report #33, Pp. 68-69. Institute for Systematic Botany. 2002. Andropogon gerardii. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. (http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=668, 13 Jan 2004). University of South Florida. Tampa. Kansas Wildflowers & Grasses. 2004. Big bluestem. (http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/bigbluestem.html, 13 Jan 2004). Kansas State University, Manhattan. Knapp, A.K. 1985. Effect of fire and drought on the ecophysiology of Andropogon gerardii and Panicum virgatum in a tallgrass prairie. Ecology 66(4): 1309-1320. Knox City Plants Materials Center. 1985. Notice of release: ‘Eldorado’ engelmanndaisy (Engelmannia pinnatifida). pp. 2. ID #1473. Soil

Fact Sheet

Uses

Erosion control: Big bluestem is a top choice for erosion control plantings on sites with moderately well drained to excessively well drained soils. Generally, it is planted in combination with other warm season grasses on these sites. Livestock: Big bluestem is one of the most palatable warm season grasses and is preferred over switchgrass by livestock. Therefore, in pastures, it should be planted alone for best management, especially where continuous or extensive grazing practices are used. It can be mixed with other species for intensive, rotational grazing. Wildlife: Birds and mammals use big bluestem for nesting and escape cover in summer and winter. It resists lodging under snow cover almost as well as switchgrass, thereby contributing to spring nesting habitat.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e,g, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Big Bluestem., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values),

Description

Andropogon gerardii, big bluestem, is a native, perennial, warm season grass that occurs from the short grass prairie region to the Atlantic Ocean. It is tufted, forms sod, and has short, scaly rhizomes. Big bluestem is tall, reaching a height of 6 to 8 feet on most sites where it is protected from grazing. It is very leafy at the base, with some leaves carried up on the stem. The seed heads normally have 3 spikelets that appear like a ‘turkey foot.’ Robert H. Mohlenbrock USDA NRCS 1995 Northeast Wetland Flora @USDA NRCS PLANTS

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

Big bluestem is climatically adapted throughout the Midwest and Northeast on moderately well drained through excessively well drained soils. It is adapted to a range of other soil limitations such as shallow depth, low pH, and low fertility. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Establishment

Big bluestem should be seeded as early in the spring as possible. Conventional tillage should be used where practical. Where no-till must be used due to slope, stoniness, or other reasons, the sod control should be performed in the fall to permit early spring planting. The seeding rate for broadcast or no-till methods should be 7 to 12 pounds PLS per acre. When drills are used to plant, debearded seed must be utilized unless the drill has a chaffy seed box. When the seed is broadcast, a packer should be utilized to firm the seedbed and incorporate the seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch (3/4 inch on very droughty sites) as if alfalfa was being planted. No nitrogen fertilizer should be applied during the establishment year unless no weed competition is expected. If pH is below 5.5, lime is recommended during site preparation or the fall prior to no-till plantings.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem