'Cimarron'

Switchgrass 

Short Description: 'Cimarron' is an improved variety of switchgrass that was specifically developed from the increased production of dry matter.  Although intended for the biofuels market, 'Cimarron' is a very high producer of forage for many classes of livestock.

Description: 'Cimarron' switchgrass is a warm-season perennial native grass that was developed and released in 2008 by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. 'Cimarron' is the result of extensive selection and testing for high yielding biomass for the biofuels market. 'Cimarron' is a lowland type adapted to the southern one-half of the United States.  'Cimarron' is similar in morphology and characteristics to the variety Alamo, but has 12% more tillers.  It also has 12% more tillers than 'Blackwell' and 25% more than 'Kanlow'. Flowering time of 'Cimarron' is approximately 10 to 14 days later than 'Kanlow', 4 weeks later than 'Blackwell', and similar to Alamo. 'Cimarron' has about 426,000 seeds per pound.  Dry matter yields were shown to be as much as 10% better than 'Alamo', the closest competitor.  A utility patent has been applied for with the U.S. Patent Office for the protection of 'Cimarron'.

Taxonomy of 'Cimarron' Switchgrass 

  Plant Characteristics of Switchgrass

Uses of 'Cimarron' Switchgrass

Biofuel Feedstock: 'Cimarron' was developed specifically for the biofuel inititative.  It has shown as much as 10% better dry matter production than the other lowland switches currently available. 'Cimarron' is well adapted to a wide range of soils, but performs best on sites with adequate moisture and good fertility.

Livestock: 'Cimarron' is also an exceptionally good forage producer.  The best quality forage is produced prior to seedhead formation. 

Wildlife: 'Cimarron' provides great protective cover for many species of wildlife.  Strip plantings of 'Cimarron' alternated with grain sorghum produce the ultimate in pheasant habitat and provide exceptional hunting opportunities.

Soil Stabilization: 'Cimarron' produces considerable topgrowth as well as rootmass to stabilize streambanks and wet areas.  It is also used in prairie restoration and conservation areas.