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Research Farm and Dairy Dairy Outreach and Education MI Agricultural Garden
Research Farm and Dairy Dairy Outreach and Education MI Agricultural Garden
| KBS - Michigan Agricultural Garden |
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The Michigan Agricultural Garden, located at the Kellogg Biological Station Dairy, includes common agricultural crops grown in Michigan and experimental crops that may one day become an important part of Michigan’s landscape. Plots include common  Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii V.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: A perennial warm-season grass grown throughout much of the central US. This grass exhibits a bunch type growth habit and has a deep, extensive root system, and good drought tolerance. Seed panicle has 3 primary branches which gives it the appearance of a turkey foot.
Management: Yields of 4 to 6 tons per acre are typical.
Uses: Used for grazing, hay, and conservation and wildlife plantings. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Nees)
Family: Poaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: A perennial warm-season grass. This grass exhibits a bunch type growth habit and has a deep, fibrous root system.
Management: Planted in spring. Weed control is critical since seedlings grow slowly and do not compete well. Tolerant of close grazing.
Uses: Used for grazing, hay, and conservation and wildlife plantings. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata)
Family: Poaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: Perennial warm-season grass that is about 4-7 feet tall and unbranched. Leaf blades are up to 3 feet long and 1inch across; they are linear, flat, and green to yellowish green. The root system is fibrous and strongly rhizomatous.
Management: Rapid growth in spring through early fall. Seed production is variable. Rhizomes can grow 5-10 feet per year. Should be planted with other warm season grasses. Cutting grass more than once per season will reduce vigor.
Uses: Used for grazing, hay, and conservation and wildlife plantings. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: Perennial warm-season grass. Exhibits a bunch type growth habit with an extensive and deep fibrous root system. Good drought tolerance.
Management: Seedlings are slow to establish and require adequate surface soil moisture. Tolerates continuous stocking during period of active growth, 10-12 inch stubble should be left for winter.
Uses: Used for grazing, hay, and conservation and wildlife plantings. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: Perennial warm-season grass. Sod forming with good drought tolerance.
Management: Grows best in rich, moist silty loam soils. Should not be grazed below 4-6 in. Grows best in full sun. Seeds require a dormancy period. Low quality for pasture in fall and winter. Yields 4 to 6 tons per acre.
Uses: Used for grazing, and hay. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe, Asia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. Low palatability. Good drought tolerance. Leaf blades are smooth near bottom but rough near tip.
Management: Slow emergence. Can tolerate continuous stocking. Produces most growth in spring and fall. Can produce 6 to 9 tons per acre.
Uses: Used for grazing, hay, and soil erosion control. Also a potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Family: Poaceae Origin: Africa
Plant Characteristics: Annual warm-season grass. Bunch growth habit with few too many upright tillers. Blades are smooth and covered with a waxy coating. Fibrous root system is extensive and has many fine roots. Little grain production. Requires less water than corn.
Management: Seed should be planted in the spring. Seed can be drilled, broadcast or planted in rows. Can grow in soils that do not sustain corn production very well.
Uses: Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
 Forage Sorghum (Sorghum sudanese)Family: Poaceae Origin: Africa
Plant Characteristics: Annual warm-season grass. Bunch growth habit with few too many upright tillers. Leaf blades are long, smooth, covered with a waxy coating, and have serrated margins. Fibrous root system is extensive and has many fine roots. Little grain production. Requires less water than corn.
Management: Seed should be planted in the spring. Grazing should begin at a height of 18 to 24 inches. Minimum grazing height is 4 to 6 inches. Mat cause prussic acid poisoning or nitrate toxicity when grazed, especially during drought conditions. Uses: Typically used for grazing and silage, difficult to dry for hay production. Potential biomass energy crop for cellulosic energy production.
Corn (Zea mays)
 Family: Poaceae Origin: Mexico
Plant Characteristics: Annual warm-season grass. Produces a single upright stem. Leaf blades are long, wide and tapered. Dense, fibrous, adventitious root system.
Management: High yielding, full season hybrids are generally grown for silage. Planted in the spring.
Uses: Most important row crop grown in North America. Forage harvested primarily for silage production. Can be grazed green or following grain harvest as crop residues. Grain used for food or livestock feed. Grain and stalk/ leaves can be used for biofuel production.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Family: Asteraceae Origin: America
Plant Characteristics: Annual crop. Deep penetrating roots, 5 to 6 feet). Drought tolerance.
Management: Grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. May be sensitive to herbicide residue. Seeds are harvested late fall.
Uses: Food, feed and bioenergy (Biodiesel – 67 to 83 gallons per acre ). The cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed.
 Soybean (Glycine max)Family: Fabaceae Origin: Asia
Plant Characteristics: Annual legume. Trifoliolate leaf structure, having 3 to 4 leaflets per leaf. Small, often purple flowers.
Management: Can grow in a wide range of soils. High protein and high oil content. Cultivated widely in the United States.
Uses: Food, feed and bioenergy (Biodiesel – 60 to 75 gallons per acre ). The cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed. High protein feed.
 Canola (Brassica napus)Family: Brassicaceae Origin: North America
Plant Characteristics: Annual crop. Suitable for cooler climates, like northern Michigan. Specific hybrid of Rapeseed developed in Canada.
Management: Can be grown as a winter cover crop. Limits soil nitrogen runoff. Plant is usually plowed back. Most production is for oil.
Uses: Food, feed and bioenergy (Biodiesel – 75 to 125 gallons per acre ). May also be used for grazing.
Oriental Mustard (Sisymbrium orientale L.)
Family: Brassicaceae Origin: Mediterranean
Plant Characteristics: Annual herbaceous plant. Flower buds appear 3 to 5 weeks after emergence. Large, deep taproots.
Management: Can be planted in spring after corn or potatoes or in fall into wheat residue. Will germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40 degrees. Very small seeds can be hard to manage. Grows best in well drained soils. As a cover crop, it can improve soil quality and provide flowers as food for beneficial insects.
Uses: Possible biofuels crop. Cover crop.
Native Prairie Mix
This plot was seeded with a mix of 41 species of grasses, legumes, forbs, and shrubs native to Michigan prairies.
Examples of species include: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), White Wild Indigo (Baptisia leucantha), Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
 Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus) Family: Poaceae Origin: Asia
Plant Characteristics: Warm season perennial grass. Can grow more then 11.5 feet in a single growing season and produce 8 to 15 tons of dry matter per acre.
Management: This sterile hybrid between M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus propagated via rhizomes. Low water use requirements. Considered a completely non-invasive species.
Uses: Experimental biofuel crop. Can be used for production of cellulosic ethanol or burned with coal or by its self for energy.
Perennial Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Asia
Plant Characteristics: Adapted to a wide range of soils. Bunch growth habit with many upright tillers. Leaf blades are smooth near the base and rough near the tip on the upper side. Management: Most wheat is grown as an annual crop, this is an experimental perennial variety. May be grown in combination with other forage species.
Uses: Potential for use as a forage crop or for grain production for food or feed.
Perennial Rye (Secale cereale)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe
Plant Characteristics: Winter hardy. Tolerant of adverse soil conditions. Bunch growth habit with many upright tillers. Leaf blades are rough above and smooth below and have rough margins. Management: Most rye is grown as an annual crop, this is an experimental perennial variety. May be grown in combination with other forage species.
Uses: Potential for use as a forage crop or for grain production for food or feed.
Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. Typically grows as a bunchgrass but may also be sod forming. Has fair drought tolerance and medium palatability. The root system is extensive, deep, and fibrous.
Management: Tolerates close grazing and continuous stocking. Remains green longer in fall and stockpiles well. Grazing should begin at 6 to 8 inches and should not be grazed below 2 to 4 inches. Some varieties contain endophyte fungal organisms that may have negative effects when grazed by livestock.
Uses: Pasture and hay. Good for winter stockpile grazing. Soil conservation.
Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe, Asia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. Flowers from June until July and has a short ligule compared to other grasses. Very palatable.
Management: Grows in moist, rich soils. Slow to establish. Requires a clean seedbed. Combines well with legumes. Valuable for fall and winter grazing. Not as heavy yielding or persistent as tall fescue.
Uses: Important forage crop. Used for hay. Ornamental uses.
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. High palatability. Medium yield. Bunch growth habitat. Stems grow upright and are smooth.
Management: Persists and produces better under rotational stocking. Grazing should begin at 6 to 8 inches. and livestock removed at 3 inches with a rest period of 2 to 4 weeks.
Uses: Pasture in mixtures with alfalfa and white clover. Hay and turf.
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: A perennial cool-season grass adapted to humid, temperate regions that does well in moderately to well drained soils. Bunch growth habit, flat leaf blades with smooth surface and rough edges. Moderately extensive and deep root system. Medium to high palatability. Management: Relatively easy to establish. Plant in a firm well prepared seed bed at a depth of 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Graze at 6 to 8 inches of forage height. Hay between boot and early head stage.
Uses: Hay production and grazing, often in combination with alfalfa and/or clovers.
Timothy (Phleum pratense L.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. Poor drought tolerance. Winter hardy. High palatability.
Management: Does not tolerate close grazing or continuous stocking. Grazing should begin at 6 to 8 inches and livestock removed at 3 to 4 inches.
Uses: Pasture and hay. Very compatible with red clover.
Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.)
Family: Poaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial cool-season grass. High palatability. Good winter hardiness. Good drought tolerance. Resists heat or drought by becoming dormant. Has a fibrous root system.
Management: Persists best when stocked rotationally. Grazing should begin at 8 to10 inches and end at 4 inches. A 6 inch stubble height should be left for winter. Prefers well-drained soils.
Uses: Pasture and Hay. Soil conservation. Mixture with alfalfa and red clover.
 Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)Family: Fabaceae Origin: Asia
Plant Characteristics: A perennial legume grown in every state in the U.S. Most varieties have an upright growth habit, reaching a height of 2 to 3 feet tall. Has a trifoliolate leaf structure, flowers are typically purple. Has a deep taproot system. Very high palatability. Good winter hardiness and drought tolerance.
Management: Seeds should be planted in early spring or late summer into a firm seed bed at a depth of 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Autotoxicity may effect new stands when planted into a field immediately following alfalfa. Typical stand life is 3 to 5 years.
Uses: Primarily used for hay and haylage production, but may also be grazed. When grazed, typically mixed with grass to reduce the chance for bloat.
 Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)Family: Fabaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial legume. High palatability with good winter hardiness and fair drought tolerance. Taproot. Magenta flowers.
Management: Tolerates cold temperatures and shade. Easily established by interseeding or frost seeding. Grazing should begin early to mid bloom. Can cause bloat in cattle and reproductive problems if not managed correctly.
Uses: Pasture and hay. Typically grown in combination with grasses.
 White Cover (Trifolium repens L.) Family: Fabaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: Perennial legume adapted to humid, temperate climates. Low tolerance to heat and drought. Commonly grown with bunch grasses. White or red “watermark”. Smooth stems with white to sometimes pink flowers.
Management: Bloat potential. Minimum grazing height is 2 inches. Spreads by stolons and reseeds naturally if allowed. Requires moderately fertility but tolerates acid to moderately alkaline conditions.
Uses: Used in permanent pastures. Grown with other species.
 Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) Family: Fabaceae Origin: Mediterranean
Plant Characteristics: Perennial legume. Appearance of 5 leaflets per leaf. Not a bloat hazard. High palatability. Good winter hardiness. Fair drought tolerance.
Management: Inoculated seed should be planted 0.125 to 0.25 inches deep in early spring or late summer. Seedlings are not very shade tolerant. Graze at early flowering frequently but not closely. Well suited for stockpiling as it maintains quality after flowering.
Uses: Soil stabilization and as a forage crop. Primarily used in mixtures with grasses.
 Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Family: Asteraceae Origin: Mediterranean
Plant Characteristics: Rosette growth habit during the cool season and once established produces many flowering stems. Basal leaves are large and lobed. Blue to purple flower heads occur at the apex and upper leaf axils of stem. Taproot system is large and deep.
Management: Can be planted in spring or fall. Produces best under rotational stocking. Graze to a 2 inches height and rest for 3 to 4 weeks. Grown in combination with grasses and legumes.
Uses: Moderate drought tolerance makes it useful for pastures.
Turnip (Brassica rapa)
Family: Brassicaceae Origin: Eurasia
Plant Characteristics: Upright growth habit. Produces several large, erect leaves with sparse hairs. Flowering stems are branched with yellow flowers.
Management: Do not tolerate wet soils. Sown in spring or summer. Ready to graze in 80 to 100 days. Can be toxic to livestock. Can cause bloat. Diet should be supplemented with hay or stockpiled grass.
Uses: Summer or fall forage. Supplemental pastures. High forage quality. Large taproot that is high in carbohydrates. Cattle will eat both above and below ground portions of plant.
 Forage Oats (Avena sativa) Family: Poaceae Origin: Europe
Plant Characteristics: Bunch growth habitat with many upright tillers. Summer annual. Leaf blades are smooth at base and become rough near tip.
Management: Used commonly with legumes especially alfalfa. Relatively easy to establish. Graze at 9 to10 inches. Should not be grazed while dormant. Great tolerance to moisture.
Uses: Used for forage. Livestock feed.
References
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pasture species (cool- and warm-season grasses, legumes, and forbs) and row crops grown individually or in combinations. Crops grown in the garden can provide livestock feed, human food, wildlife habitat, fuel, and ecosystem services (such as carbon sequestration and soil conservation). 
