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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420665
Research Project: Enhancing Cropping System and Grassland Sustainability in the Texas Gulf Coast Region by Managing Systems for Productivity and Resilience

Location: Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory

Title: Johnsongrass: A grassland invader

Author
item Schantz, Merilynn

Submitted to: Weed Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2025
Publication Date: 2/3/2025
Citation: Schantz, M.C. 2025. Johnsongrass: A grassland invader. Weed Science. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2025.7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2025.7

Interpretive Summary: Johnsongrass is a forage crop that has spread and come to dominate many southern Great Plains grassland ecosystems. There are, however, many beneficial effects of Johnsongrass. In this review, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Johnsongrass in southern Great Plains grassland ecosystems and identify areas where research on this species could be expanded.

Technical Abstract: Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.), an invasive tallgrass, actively inhabits grassland ecosystems of North America. While still used as a forage crop, Johnsongrass can spread and dominate intact grasslands. The grasslands ecoregions of the southern Great Plains are particularly susceptible to Johnsongrass invasion and dominance because of its preferential growth in continental climate zones coupled with its ability to readily colonize recent disturbances associated with declining livestock grazing and anthropogenic energy and housing development. Johnsongrass does, however, provide high quality forage and appears to withstand the frequent drought and flooding events associated with climate change in southern Great Plains ecosystems. While Johnsongrass invasion and spread should be monitored, there are multiple socio-economic benefits of Johnsongrass for agricultural production systems. In this review, we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Johnsongrass in southern Great Plains grassland ecosystems and identify areas where research on this species could be expanded.