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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160442
Title: SURVEY OF CRP AND OTHER GRASSLANDS IN THE NORTHEASTERN USA

Author
item Adler, Paul
item Sanderson, Matt
item Goslee, Sarah

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/18/2003
Publication Date: 11/2/2003
Citation: Adler, P.R., Sanderson, M.A., Goslee, S.C. 2003. Survey of crp and other grasslands in the northeastern USA [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Paper No. C06-adler118864-poster. 2003 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Not applicable.

Technical Abstract: Grassland ecosystems are important wildlife habitat and have the potential to be a significant component of the new biobased economy. Most currently established grasslands in the northeastern USA are on land with marginal crop production potential. Little is known about the plant composition or amount of biomass produced on these grasslands. To assemble a database for the resource assessment of warm-season grasslands in the northeastern USA, we determined plant species composition at multiple scales using the modified Whittaker plot technique, measured various soil properties, and quantified biomass yield on CRP, WHIP, mine reclamation, and other grasslands. A total of 34 grasslands were sampled in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia during late August through mid-October in 2002 and 2003. We identified over 250 different plant species across the study region. Species richness was about 34 and biomass was about 6.6 Mg/ha, but both were quite variable by site. Although biomass yields were substantially lower than have been reported for monotypic switchgrass fields, minimal inputs may substantially increase the yields.