Forage of the Month: Eastern Gamagrass

(Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.)

Published: June 29, 2012

Eastern gamagrass, the king of bunchgrasses, is used for pasture, hay and silage. It grows well in wetter areas but prefers deep, well-drained soils. Eastern gamagrass lends itself to pasture-based operations because it has a more even distribution of yield over the grazing season than do many other warm-season grasses. It also has better forage quality than many other warm-season grasses. Despite these advantages, eastern gamagrass has a few problems. Seed production is difficult, and gamagrass is slow to establish. Furthermore, it is easily ov e r grazed. Eastern gamagrass grows well throughout Missouri but is most popular in the central and western regions of the state. Despite its limitations, eastern gamagrass can be an important part of a forage system.