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Mowing Height; Renewable Energy 04/10/07 1:59:20 PM
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FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT:
DAVID KEY , DISTRICT
EXTENSION AGENT
207 MAIN, SENECA
785-336-2184
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THE
WEEK OF MARCH 26, 2007
EXTENSION LINE - K-STATE RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION
HOW LOW SHOULD YOU GO?
We often are asked whether it is good to mow lower in
the spring. The answer is “Yes” and “No”. It doesn’t hurt to mow lower than
normal the first mowing or two. As a matter of fact, it can actually speed up
green-up by removing old, dead grass and allowing the soil to warm up faster.
However, the mowing height should be raised to normal after the first or second
cutting so that crabgrass is not encouraged. Crabgrass seed must have light to
germinate, and a high mowing height will shade the soil. Also, the root depth
and mowing height are related on upright growing grasses, such as tall fescue
and Kentucky bluegrass. The higher the height of cut, the deeper the root
system. A deeper root system means a more drought-resistant turf.
So how low should you go on the first cutting? On tall
fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, you should mow at about 1 to 1 ½ inches. Be
careful you don’t go so low that you scalp the turf. Normal mowing height for
Kentucky bluegrass is 2 to 3 inches and for tall fescue is 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches.
25 BY ‘25 - POWERING THE FUTURE
America’s farms, ranches, and forests - our working
lands - are well positioned to make contributions to the development and
implementation of new renewable energy solutions. An emerging opportunity exist
for crop and livestock producers, as well as forest landowners, to become major
providers of another essential commodity - energy.
Consider these facts:
$ The current fossil fuel based energy pardigm
is no longer sustainable.
$ Our nation and the world are looking for new
energy solutions.
$ Energy, economic development, national
security and environmental quality are inextricably linked.
Corn and soybean producers have shown how the ag sector
can become modern day energy providers. “Home grown” energy solutions offer
tremendous potential for producers, landowners and processors to capture more
income; for rural communities to prosper; and for the nation to lessen its
dependence on foreign oil.
Solutions from the land: America’s farms,
ranches and forests can produce important fuels and feedstocks needed to help
our nation improve energy security. Through emerging technology we can
$ produce biomass and turn plant residues,
processing by-products and animal wastes into value added energy
feedstocks and biobased products;
$ generate electricity by harnessing wind and
solar energy, and capturing and converting bio-gas emissions;
$ and dramatically increase the production of
liquid transportation fuels.
What are the benefits?
$ Increased income from the land
$ Added value uses for crops, livestock waste,
plant residues and processing by-products
$ Alternative land-related and rural enterprises
$ More productive uses of marginal land
$ Resolution of air, water and soil quality
problems and reduction of hazardous forest fuels
$ Lower energy input costs
$ Enhanced rural economies
$ Increased public support of and respect for
agricultural, forestry and horticultural industries
Sponsor: this project is being sponsored by the
Energy Future Coalition, and independent non-partisan initiative funded by
private foundations. The Coalition seeks to accelerate the development and
implementation of new energy solutions and chart a new course for energy policy.
Detailed information on the Coalition can be found at
www.energyfuturecoalition.org.
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