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](images/seedhead_tn0499.JPG) |
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
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