This Heat Loving Grass Makes Free Fertilizer

Switchgrass is a Native Warm Season Grass that fixes nitrogen in an form that is accessible to other plants, without spending a dime on fertilizers. Elizabeth Steele breaks down how this process happens and the Nitrogen yield that can be expected from a field of Switchgrass.
Switchgrass Native Plant seed can be purchased from our website:
hamiltonnative...

[@zerotoeverything4348]

this type of things needs to be accessible on online shops

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

We sell the seed on our website: www.hamiltonnativeoutpost.com

[@NotGoddess]

Wonderful video! I love how science is discovering more and more how interconnected plant communities are.

[@teluvinas]

Loved both your switchgrass videos. I’m reading some production guides for switchgrass here in Ontario, hadn’t encountered data that it fixed nitrogen in the rhizosphere yet. This is exciting. (The guides do say not to apply N while switchgrass is establishing as you’ll just help the cool season grasses and weeds compete with the switchgrass.) Ontario growers seem to like switchgrass more for biofuel or whole plant harvesting when dormant e.g. for livestock bedding, I’m more interested in grazing pasture.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

It definitely makes wonderful pasture during the warm season. A wonderful resource to learn more other than our website and videos is Pat Keyser's book "Native Grass Forages for the eastern U.S." I know you aren't exactly in the eastern U.S. but much of it will still apply.

[@DavidMartinez-ig7yo]

The moment you said the grass was up to your pocket knife all the men watching said inside. "That's one I can take home to meet mama!" 😉 thanks for the info, planting now.

[@spilledit]

Every woman in the world knows guys are in love with them. These are different times. STOP BEING SIMPS

[@Golden_SnowFlake]

The moment a girl was on screen, all the men watching said inside "That's a woman, meep moop."

[@spilledit]

@Golden_SnowFlake stop being a simp. Grow a pair and show some self respect. You're giving out free attention.

[@alostpilgrimsjourney5953]

I have visited these folks and purchased seed from them with great results. Highly recommend Hamilton's.

[@Trial-N-ErrorFarms-jk9iz]

Where are they? Kansas? Alaska? I wouldn't expect them to share an address, but a region would be helpful!

[@alostpilgrimsjourney5953]

They have a website with further information. They are located in south central Missouri.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@Trial-N-ErrorFarms-jk9iz We are located in Southern Missouri. I've updated the info in our bio. Thanks for the helpful suggestion!

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

We appreciate your business!

[@jeremiahr7585]

Will this do well in North Idaho?

[@deborahcox7698]

i have over 50 acrs of sg never fertilzed burn every spring grows lick mad stand over 20 yrs old wild life love it great stuff just planted some gama grass

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

unfortunately, in most places I know of you're not ALLOWED to "burn every spring".

[@threeriversforge1997]

Great talk! Thanks for the wonderful exposition on the Panicum's ability to fix nitrogen. I've often said that folks are way too fixated on this "nitrogen fixation" legume jive. Every youtube channel I visit seems to always claim you have to plant legumes to "fix nitrogen into the soil" and never stops to ask how nitrogen ever got into the soil if only legumes seem able to do it. And there's certainly no talk about all the other trace minerals and their impact on soil/plant health. Whenever someone mentions nitrogen, my first question is to ask them about the magnesium or calcium levels. It always makes their eyes go wonky as they realize that nitrogen isn't the only thing in the ground! Crazy days, honestly.

[@firstname-qq3xp]

E plain the calcium and magnesium please

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@firstname-qq3xp Every soil is different depending on where you are and your local ecosystem. What this means is that there are many different plants that accomplish this thing that's so popular. What folks don't realize is that because every ecosystem is different, the needs are different and how it operates will be different. Dandelions, for example, only come in to compacted soils that are deficient in calcium. That deep tap root breaks up the ground, allowing air and water to migrate through the strata, and as the leaves die off, the calcium is deposited at the surface where other plants can access it. Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) is a nitrogen-fixer even though it's not a "legume". It also has a famously amazing root structure that burrows deep into the ground, up to 12' or more. It was the native grasses like this that built the amazing soil of the Great Plains. All this to say that the relationships between plants and the micro-biome in the soil is very complicated and evolved over a million years. There are people in America who are planting Vetiver grass because they think it'll be great for stabilizing the ground, preventing erosion and the like. But they don't know that we have our own native grasses that do the same thing.... and have evolved to actually be here and interact with the ecosystem. Folks don't think about how what happens above the soil might just mimic what happens below ground. If the insects and animals don't eat the non-native plants, why would we expect the microbial life to interact with those foreign plants? We know very little about the way the system works. It's a million little interaction we're wholly ignorant about. Fixating on this one thing, like "fixing nitrogen", is weird because nitrogen in the soil isn't some magic wand that cures all ills.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

I glad you mentioned panicum fixes nitrogen. Will cattle only graze or also consume it baled after it is sun cured? Dennis baled...Dennis

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Are we simply and only considering plant biochemistry and microbiology to obtain these facts. I am thinking there is possibly more science involved. Dennis

[@denniskemnitz1381]

@@threeriversforge1997 thank you very much for your additional information.Dennis

[@Golden_SnowFlake]

Beans I believe is around 100-500lb per acre, so up to 10x as much nitrogen fixation, and it self terminates, as well as supplies a decent amount of easily collectable food matter while suppressing weeds. I would recommend beans.

[@midwesternoutdoorsandnatur8272]

Nitrogen in urea form is a dollar a pound granular around here. Great info!

[@patheticpotato4545]

Do you also have to pay for Urease inhibitors? Also what effects does that have on the soil microbes. I'm just curious on the context

[@cody481]

So what animals enjoy eating switch grass? Cattle, horses,sheep. BUT ONLY WHEN IT'S VERY YOUNG.

[@midwesternoutdoorsandnatur8272]

@@patheticpotato4545 urea is not good on soil microbes. It’s used extensively in production ag, and not regenerative at all.

[@robertreznik9330]

When I was in a bacteriology class in the 1960's it was know that free living nitrogen fixing bacteria was supplying the grass with nitrogen. The native grasses on the high plains are usually a mono-culture of a climax species. The soil type will determine this.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

yup. we have ground up silica sand in the Columbia valley, courtesy of the last pass of glaciers. there's nothing in the ground. all quake grass and a little burdock.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

@@robertreznik9330 please/send more bac't info...Dennis

[@denniskemnitz1381]

@@robertreznik9330 what is/a/climax specie

[@OneWildTurkey]

She's easy to listen to. Nice that it's interesting, too.

[@TrevorStruthers]

The usda said that in the Pacific region where I live that switchgrass removes nitrogen from the soil. I wonder why that is? We are very hot and dry in my part of SE washington. I hope this works though!

[@Francisco-fe8ki]

Wow ,.very interesting and helpful information, weel I took seeds to jalisco Mexico in 2002 a lot native grasses from America along with the some of legumes in order of recreate the beauty of the prairies but I didn't succeed because we did an overgrazing over the stand , would be beautiful to have all the varieties now and switch grass was there since a took two varieties I remember Alamo cv and a north variety I don't remember which one but what I know were two varieties, but if we aprays the endophite a good bacteria on any grass it will take nitrogen from the the air and send it to the roots and the bacteria colonized the plants in days and indeed I know that is in use in corn but can do it in all grasses and fruit trees and the name of the product is Pivot Bio Proven 40 and there is one in jalisco Mexico named Blue N and Utrisha N which I will try to get this year or prove it in grass and fruit trees As well in US there is another brand that is name L Hidro that has 4 diferentnendophite bacteria that pull nitrogen from the air as same as Proven 40 and all lasts longer as the plant lives All have a great day and blessing from Jalisco Mexican

[@FranciscoCruz-fd3pw]

Good job!

[@Extremealgarve1]

That's awesome. I was wondering what grasses if any were nitrogen fixers.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is also known to fix nitrogen.

[@daviddroescher]

Ive got a buddy that works for Symplot he pointed out that yard grass will grean up after a rain storm regardless of how moist you keep the lawn( he is in a sem arid location/ crops dont grow without irrigatio)n. He said that N² is absorbed by the rain drops on there way down providing a surge of N to the plants. . Stack this on top of the switch grasses N fixing symbolic relationship giving an extra boost. 2 questions What is the required annual rain fall to sustain switch grass? My area gets 9" /yr. Ive got sparce volunteer alfalfa and wild Sweet Peas in the 60' park strip where i want to cover crop to keep the dust down. The city runs a brush hog through to "maintain "the weeds. How will the switch grass respond to this .

[@denniskemnitz1381]

@@daviddroescher symbolic meaning symbiosis?? Dennis

[@daviddroescher]

@denniskemnitz1381 yes the mutually beneficial relationship (symbiotic). Not meaning the action(symbiosis). Any input other than erroneous grammar correction?

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Those grass plant rootscontain sugars which influence grass growth, also. Correct..Dennis

[@starlightengram1]

In my garden, I'm trying black eye peas planted beside rows of aloe vera with garlic planted between these.

[@stevescuba1978]

I'm about to surround my banana, mango, papaya, plantain, and fig trees with cowpeas to choke out the grasses and feed my trees. I started a row of cassava similarly, and they are growing wild!

[@denniskemnitz1381]

"Very interesting."

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

Now that would make an interesting album cover for Fergie and the rap gang.

[@Urbangardenersproject]

The next step to this would be looking at the trees. And if you notice, young trees take advantage of the excesse nitrogen and carbon to grow. In every single ecosystem you can notice this phenomenon. One of my favorite examples is how you can see the swamp grass give nutrients to the young mangrove trees. It’s also why many tree planting projects fail because we don’t understand the natural cycle . And also why no-input food forest systems, and gardens work so well.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

yes, you have to "assess" the potential. my ground has nothing in it (the last glacier ground up nothing but sand) so I garden in raised beds on legs (bug like grasshoppers don't seem to like being higher up than 25 inches) and top dress as I go: it's working very well.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

​@@DwightStJohn-t7ythank you for the insight. Very interesting. Dennis

[@durgaduttshukla9890]

Very good information... let's search more monocot grass....C4 plants ☘️

[@kazparzyxzpenualt8111]

I love that word Photosynthing! Did you make that up? Photosynthesis really has too many syllables!

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Perhaps the author is an English teacher.haha.

[@kazparzyxzpenualt8111]

How can one identify switch grass accurately? Some people around here think it is invasive. I need to find out if we are talking about the same plant? I think there are patches around in a field I have. But this is in New England on the east coast. I want to regenerate this field. It was ravaged before I got it. Erosion and compaction. Used for chemically grown corn the last year by the previous owner. Badly plowed in a wet season and dosed so well very little grew the first year left alone. Now all kinds of succession of weeds like burdock and golden rod stinging nettle and milkweed. Plenty of dandelions, clover and raspberry too. Slowly the seed bank reveals.itself.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

Where are you located? If it's native to your area, they may simply mean that it is aggressive. It can spread easily. This link may be helpful in identifying. We hope to have a video for that purpose soon! extension.illinois.edu/blogs/grasses-glance/2023-08-07-identifying-switchgrass-warm-season-grass

[@ByMySelfGardening]

@@HamiltonNativeOutpostif I tried to plant some of this as a lawn in Florida would it do well?

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@ByMySelfGardening no. No it won’t.

[@marvinbaier3627]

Thanks for the video! I enjoy all the videos!

[@Bennix]

Is it ok to grow this on desert land? My land is 95% sand, and pH around 4.5

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

A really good resource to see if this plant grew in your county is the BONAP range maps and the USDA plants range maps and these are available online. However, if this plant does not grow in your area the secret is to plant a diversity of native plants because each one has it's own unique function in the environment.

[@ks_hunter7327]

How long does it take for plants that recover from exposure to synthetic fertilizers and start to making nitrogen again?

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@ks_hunter7327 it’s probably variable. We haven’t found much data on the subject that is in agreement to indicate otherwise.

[@firstname-qq3xp]

You can innoculate, perhaps with legume seeds.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Possibly rely on microbes and maybe aerated compost teas or simply compost or raise ruminants or chickens or pigs on the land a few seasons.

[@allenferry9632]

Would having clover or vetch in the switch grass slow the nitrogen fixation to either species or would it help due to different growth times?

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@allenferry9632 native warm season grasses and early introduced legumes don’t typically play well together.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Are you sure?

[@brucejensen3081]

Has this stuff evolved in grasslands where there was no legumes. I would assume so, and are legumes good companions, or does one or both suffer. Does it change the nitrogen into ammonia for the bacteria. Is it as palatable as legumes. Does it help produce enough nitrates for a field say 50% herb, 50% grass.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@brucejensen3081 from our observation and from others we’ve spoken to, the grasslands were maybe 20% legumes.

[@reneebaranoski9576]

Great vid

[@rudyheicksen177]

Ya these cool weather grasses mature too early to make good hay and before the rain guits

[@Forester-qs5mf]

It’s not just switchgrass. All plants form symbiotic relationships with hundreds of species of free living N fixation bacteria. Research from the Jena experiment found plant family diversity is the key to maximising N fixation. They found mixes of plants from at least 4 different plant families without legumes fixed more nitrogen than monocultures of legumes. Diversity is the key.

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

I want to figure out how to identify this. Before I start workign on my land I need to figure out what kind of grass I currently have.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

You might contact your local NRCS agent. They tend to be be very helpful resources that are familiar with the plants in your area.

[@TinyTexasHousesPSO]

Is it logical then that if I mow and let it fall, cycle back into soil, am I adding nitrogen that will debilitate the future production? Can I use the cut grass as fertilizer for other growing areas as great food for other plants? Seems logical.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

NItrogen fertilizer is an artificially created addition whereas the nitrogen that is slowly recycled by microbes from the plant material is a natural part of the system. Slow release, natural form, less concentrated. Should be fine. When you remove the cut grass, it also removes other nutrients at the same time.

[@RonaldColeman-ef2rc]

Is switchgrass and Johnson grass the same plant.

[@causasui8185]

No. Switchgrass (a native) is "Panicum virgatum". Johnsongrass (a non-native) is "Sorghum halepense".

[@kevinmiller5467]

What grasses native to Europe that fix nitrogen can be grown America? I want to seem sophisticated.

[@mineralwasser3326]

In Germany, switchgrass is occasionally grown as an energy crop. Do these microbes have to be spread with the seed or do they also exist on soil where switchgrass has never grown before?

[@timothyhammer6154]

You should look for German equivalents. Not Native North American grass and microbes. Otherwise you are talking about introducing a species to your country that you have very little knowledge about how it will effect your environment.

[@somaliano99kingkonghimself75]

I don t know why but I just love this type of woman because they only give us Kim Kardashian and there wicked people we as real man respect woman like this great girl changing the world to

[@didierfertil6334]

Hello from France, did you studie Miscanthus giganteus ?

[@gonzaloseoane5712]

Translate please my words, para hacer Agricultura o Ganadería o lo que sea en el campo, el mayor bien es el suelo, solo haciendo un Pastore Racional Voisin es lo correcto, en su país Voisin no es muy conocido y si gente que lo leyó e interpretó pero mal, luego de hacer un buen PRV solo así después de regenerar se puede hacer Agricultura Hay que respetar la leyes de Voisin, son 4 y están en la red. Son importantes que las parcelas en descanso no sean pisoteadas, para eso se hacen grupos de 8 potreros, para llegar a un potrero tiene que ser por un camino, también en todo el proyecto tiene que haber un camino perimetral. Regards. 13:01

[@thepacksmith6555]

Thanks from mid Missouri. Good info.

[@marcelofernandez5380]

Spoted

[@lincwayne3435]

Where are you located? I looked in the about section and couldn't find anything. Just wondering if this type of grass would work in East Texas - thanks!

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

We are located in Southern Missouri. I've updated the info in our bio. Thanks for bringing that to our attention! A lot of the species we offer are also native to Texas, but you should check with NRCS for a comprehensive list of species best suited for your area.

[@lewisrobinson3380]

East Texas here as well and very curious about this as well. Switch grass has 3 ecotypes upland, lowland and coastal. Lowland and Coastal occurs in East Texas and most of the South East USA. Upland occurs in Southern Missouri going north. No idea how the ecotypes differ if at in terms of nitrogen.

[@YourFBIagent118]

Where can I get some seeds at. You should sell seeds like other KZbinrs sell shirts.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

You can buy our seeds at hamiltonnativeoutpost.com/. Or you can call our office if you have questions. Contact information is on our website!

[@YourFBIagent118]

@@HamiltonNativeOutpost thanx!! 👍

[@ByronCotton-l2o]

Do you know which crop fixes its own Nitrogen, produces delicious food and nutritious hay for livestock.

[@denniskemnitz1381]

I think I mainly only know little bit about legumes. I have/been taught years ago they fix nitrogen. Now I learning more about nitrogen fixers...

[@jimmyyounger618]

Since we're primarily a horse ranch, I wondered if I could find anything about the palatability of switchgrass for horses. It's listed as a PASTURE POISON! Switchgrass contains steroidal saponins. If large quantities of steroidal saponins are ingested by horses, it can lead to liver damage and secondary photosensitization. Switchgrass also contains oxalates with varying toxicity levels throughout the different plant parts and cultivars. Highest levels occur in young, rapidly growing plants. Symptoms of switchgrass ingestion: Loss of appetite, weight loss, photosensitization, depression, jaundice, (from the liver damage), lameness and incoordination. 😮😵‍💫😵

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

Yes, you are correct. We do not recommend that it is used for horses or small ruminant animals. Our horses seem to enjoy the diversity paddocks we rotate them on. Limited switchgrass. References such "Native Grass Forages for the Eastern U.S." by Pat Keyser do mention the saponin problem with switchgrass, however other native grasses like Big bluestem, Indiangrass, and Eastern Gama Grass are not mentioned.

[@johnauner671]

How is Switchgrass with MIG?

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

@@johnauner671 wonderful! Just keep in mind, tall grasses require tall management. We Like it best as part of a diverse mix.

[@jeffa847]

What is MIG?

[@denniskemnitz1381]

@@jeffa847 never heard of MIG..EXPLAINplease..

[@marlbankian]

Interesting

[@JKent-ry9yg]

The best N fixing bacteria - Texas Earth, Lubbock, TX The best mycorrhazie fungi - Big Foot, out of Oregon.

[@KathyAndrew]

So, why don't my cows like switchgrass?

[@deleahmorawitz7113]

Not hungry enough

[@KathyAndrew]

@@deleahmorawitz7113 Yeah, they will eat anything BUT switchgrass.

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

It may be that you have other species present that they find more palatable, or they could be interacting with Switchgrass past its prime forage window.

[@KathyAndrew]

@@HamiltonNativeOutpost We have a native grass mix here in Kansas, and cows just never eat switchgrass. I see pastures that when all the other grass is gone, there are clumps of switchgrass.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

@@KathyAndrew Cattle esp. feeding a calf like high moisture grasses, and they can smell the nutrition level. Having said that, in the sandhills of the Dakotas and Nebraska there are "stand cured" bunches that are high in nutrition than an 1/8th. of an acre of wet grass on the wet west coast!!

[@partidaportet27]

Awesome. It is my understanding all plants spend the first days of their lives recruiting a microbiome. But plants sense situations where we apply in furrow, eg too close to developing roots and they can bypass this recruitment process, using the sugars they typically pass through the roots for this for direct growth. So our plants take off and we believe ourselves as god's. Come time to bloom, the soil and added Phosphate for example will be well complexed and only available through a microbiome which won't have been recruited due to the excess nutrients we already applied. Hence we are causing our own nutrient lag issues through poor cultural practices

[@denniskemnitz1381]

Very interesting. Actually Beyond my imagination..Dennis

[@muhammadmansha2076]

Hi madam how are you, madam very nice your vedio, madam ,i am Pakistani, I live in Manchester England, madam I am small farmer, I want information switch grass,madam switch grass for milking cows good or not good, please tell me madam , i like this grass, madam I want this grass seed, please tell me madam where are this grass shop, thanks madam,

[@HamiltonNativeOutpost]

Sir, we are a family owned seed company located in Missouri USA. Here is the switchgrass we offer on our website: hamiltonnativeoutpost.com/product/switchgrass/ Please keep in mind that this seed in native and adapted to our climate here in the midwestern USA. This grass should be great for milk cows before it goes to seed.

[@muhammadmansha2076]

@HamiltonNativeOutpost thanks for reply,madam, God bless you ❤️

[@christopheryates5953]

Rain has nitrogen in it from the atmosphere.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

That explains why you get such a boost with just a little rain: everything takes off.

[@Chris-op7yt]

clover is even better at this, but you have to be careful with ruminants eating too much nitrogen from clover. it's all good but only applicable to pasture situations, and you still have other variables to consider, for example, if there's any pests or disease that this particular plant is highly associated with. things are complicated, that's life.

[@DavidRose-m8s]

In NZ we have none of these warm season nitrogen fixing grass's, and are not going to get them as they are looked at as dangerous to the environment by our scientific community. I wonder if this switch grass exudates into the soil as strongly as the cool season grass's loved by our Eurocentric institutions. I see that yes the nitrogen fixing community get's exudates, but is that exclusive? There does not seem to be much diversity where you are standing, but lots of thatch.

[@firstname-qq3xp]

I thought grass bogs down trees by sucking up the water. So how are other plants supposed to live in there? Grass seems to like monoculture. Educate me on how fruits are relevant here.

[@utubemouse]

In the plains areas, the rainfall usually is lower and more suited to grasses than trees. Grasses, in native prairies, grow in bunches or clumps-between the grasses there is a whole “ground level” ecosystem where small animals can scurry and nest and transport seeds. Many of the prairie species of both grasses and other plants are seasonal and die back to the roots in a type of senescence; this allows a diversity of species to flourish during different seasons and in mixed, non-contiguous patches throughout a prairie landscape. Animal, fire, and weather disturbances are also important factors in maintaining diversity in this habitat.

[@DwightStJohn-t7y]

@@utubemouse ironic you mention FIRE. greetings from tghe Columbia valley in BC. A glacier passed through and ground up the sand to a fine powder. There's nothing in it: quakegrass is endemic, and root arid plants like burdock. Of course, we planted pine, now up over 80 feet, but this is NOT a tree area. So we now have scrawny deer, nasty black bear in town, and invasive turkey from Idaho. What we SHOULD have is up another 1,000 feet: grizzly, mountain sheep and goat, and elk. The fires we're now getting in the west may return us to that without US having to make that decision.

[@kishanbishnoi1750]

doing a great job ' gonna make my forest after 2 years after being employed

[@666bruv]

Free living N fixing bacteria