Composite Dropseed

Establishment

Pretreatment of composite dropseed seeds with potassium nitrate resulted in 39% germination.

Management

Burning in early spring favors warm-season composite dropseed, whereas late spring burning favors cool-season species. Forage yield of composite dropseed increased following a spring burn during both wet and dry years in an Ashe’s juniper (Juniperus ashe) community in southeastern Texas. An autumn burn favored the growth of composite dropseed in a southern Texas chaparral community. A field study addressed the effects of fire, cattle grazing and the interaction of these two disturbances on plant species abundance and community structure in an tallgrass prairie in Oklahoma. Plant species composition was sampled across 4 levels of increasing disturbance intensity: ungrazed + unburned (undisturbed), grazed + unburned, ungrazed + burned, and grazed + burned. Burning occurred during mid-April. Grazing occurred from mid-May to September at a moderate to heavy stocking rate. Burning decreased the percentage cover of composite dropseed from 11.7 to 4.8, when averaged across grazing treatments and years. Grazing had no effect on the percentage cover of composite dropseed. The common species in the plant community were classified as either matrix or non-matrix species. Matrix forming species are superior competitors that consume the majority of resources, and non-matrix species occupy areas between the matrix forming dominants. In this study the matrix species were perennial grasses: big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and composite dropseed. The non-matrix species were perennial and annual forbs, and the annual grass cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Collectively, the matrix and non-matrix species exhibited an opposite response to both burning and grazing treatments. Collectively, fire increased the cover of matrix-forming grass; composite dropseed was an exception. Grazing decreased the cover of matrix grasses and increased the cover of forbs. Cheatgrass was the most common non-matrix species. Burning reduced the percentage cover of cheatgrass from 30.0 to 1.8, when averaged across grazing treatments and years.

Pests and Potential Problems

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

An average seed lot of composite dropseed contains 759,362 seeds per pound. Observations indicate that cross-pollination in composite dropseed is possible but probably infrequent. Nevertheless, standard isolation procedures should be used in composite dropseed seed production. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Contact your local Natural Resources

Conservation

Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information, Look in the phone book under ”United States Government”, The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Composite Dropseed.,” “Northern Missouri Germplasm” is a source identified ecotype for northern Missouri counties, It was collected from native prairie remnants in Missouri counties north of the Missouri River and from east to west across northern Missouri, The potential uses of Northern Missouri Germplasm include roadside plantings, prairie restoration, landscaping, and increasing species diversity in prairie communities, Seed is available from the USDA NRCS Elsberry Plant Materials Center, 2803 N, Hwy, 79, Elsberry, Missouri,

References

Boe, A. 1990. Variability for seed size and yield in two tall dropseed populations. J. Range Manage. 43:195-197. Anderson, K.L., Smith, E.F. & Owensby, C.B. 1970. Burning bluestem range. J. Range Manage. 23: 81-92.