Eastern Gamagrass:  "Bumpers"

Plant Release by Booneville Plant Materials Center

The Booneville, AR Plant Materials Center recently released a new eastern gamagrass to be called ‘Bumpers’ in honor of Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas who served for 24 years in the United States Senate and has been a long time advocate and supporter of agriculture and issues related to farm production and agricultural producers.

Fuel Source
Although the new grass will be primarily used as a forage crop, Bumpers has other potential benefits one of which is as a production-biomass crop for bioenergy or biofuel.  Experts predict that energy produced from fossil fuels will peak by 2020, presenting a challenge to find alternative energy resources.  Agriculture stands to benefit by becoming a major producer of alternative fuels such as biofuels from crops like Bumpers to supply small power plants and crops that can be utilized in the production of synfuels such as methane and ethanol. 

Eastern gamagrass seed head

A variety of biomass-producing plant materials, such as Bumpers and other selected perennial grasses and fast-growing trees, are rapidly emerging in the agricultural marketplace.  PMCs like Boonevilles are addressing the development of plant materials that will accommodate energy needs while considering water conservation and other objectives.

Agricultural Uses 
A grass of many purposes, Bumpers may be used for hay production and for rotational grazing, which reduces plant-stand damage. Other potential benefits for Bumpers may be as a natural-nutrient filter for water-quality improvement, and as buffers and vegetative barriers for conservation plantings.

Soil Compatibility
Typical of all eastern gamagrass varieties, Bumpers is adapted for well-drained, fertile soils and will tolerate heavier more poorly-drained soils and even limited flooding. Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH levels, Bumpers is recommended for use in western Arkansas, southern Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma.

Harvesting
Bumpers responds favorably to burning in late winter or early spring and requires prudent management for forage maximization of yield and quality. Dry-matter production is a function of harvest timing and frequency, fertility, rainfall and other environmental factors. Bumpers responds to 45-day harvest intervals and the last harvest should be made in mid-August or early September to allow for a 6-week regrowth period prior to frost.

Last Modified 7/8/2005

< Back to ...