WW-IRON MASTER OLD WORLD BLUESTEM

'WW-Iron Master' Old World bluestem was released jointly by USDA-ARS and USDA-SCS in June 1987. WW-Iron Master is adapted throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. WW-Iron Master is a valuable grass for beef production when used in improved pastures or rangeland plantings. It is also useful for soil stabilization and wildlife cover on iron deficient and erodible marginal farmlands.

WW-Iron Master is very iron efficient and produces more forage with less chlorosis than other Old World bluestem varieties when grown on iron deficient soils. In a three year forage trial, 1982-1984, WW-Iron Master produced 66% more dry matter than WW-Spar and Ganada, and 130% more than Caucasian bluestem when grown on an iron deificent calcareous Quinlan soil at Woodward, Oklahoma.

WW-Iron Master is later in maturity and has a higher leaf to stem ratio than other recommended Old World bluestem varieties. Leafiness increases the palatability and forage quality of grasses. It has 1 to 3% higher digestibility (IVOMD) than WW-Spar, Plains, Caucasian or Ganada bluestem. This increased quality is most apparent as the growing season progresses into the summer months. Because WW-Iron Master has fewer stems than other varieties, it also produces fewer seed heads. This reduces seed production and increases the cost of production and price of seed.

WW-Iron Master suffered less winter injury and stand reduction than WW-Spar and Plains bluestem during the severe winter of 1989-1990 in western Oklahoma. Spring forage production from WW-Iron Master following this severe winter was therefore greater than that of WW-Spar and Plains bluestem. Average daily gains have been as high or higher than other Old World bluestem varieties available. Average daily gains in the summer have ranged from 1.52 to 2.37 lb/day.

Average daily gains of >WW-Iron Master= Old World Bluestem, >Plains= Old World Bluestem and >Blackwell= Switchgrass.