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Article: Corn's comeback cousin. (Eastern Gamagrass)
- Article from:
- Agricultural Research
- Article date:
- April 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Eastern gamagrass, a cousin to corn that thrives without annual replantings, was a common sight to the early settlers. It may become a common sight again--first as a forage crop and later as a dual-purpose forage-grain crop of the 21st century.
This warm-season grass could relieve farmers' anxiety in future years like 1993, when many Midwestern fields remained wet through planting season.
Besides withstanding soggy soils, the deep-rooted grass is also drought resistant. Its growth--up to 8 feet high, and in bunches--also provides an excellent cover for wildlife while reducing soil erosion.
Now rising in popularity as a high-protein forage, ...