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Crested
Wheatgrass
Common
Name(s):
Crested Wheatgrass
Scientific
Name:
Agropyron
cristatum (L.) Gaertn.
Scientific
Name Synonyms:
None known
Symbol:
AGCR
Description:
Life
Span: Perennial
Origin:Introduced
Season: Cool
Growth Characteristics:
A
perennial bunchgrass, without rhizomes, growing to a height of 1
½ to 2 ½ feet. It starts growth in early spring and
flowers in late spring. It reproduces from seeds and tillers. It
may regrow in the fall if moisture is sufficient.
Seedhead:A
dense spikelet, with a conspicuously flattened head, 1 ½
to 3 inches long, tapering toward the tip; spikelets numerous, overlapping
and placed flat-wise on the rachis, contain 4 to 8 florets per spikelet;
glumes about half the length of the spikelet; both the glumes and
lemmas usually taper to a point or into a short awn.
Leaves: Leaf blades flat, vary in fineness
with the vigor of the plant, usually glabrous; sheaths glabrous
or pubescent on lower leaves; leaves rolled in the bud; ligules
short and membranous; auricles short, pointed and clasping the stem.
Ecological
Adaptations:
Various
varieties of crested wheatgrass were introduced from Russia in the
1930's. They are adapted to elevations ranging from 4000 to 8000
feet in Utah. All varieties are very resistant to fire, drought,
cold temperatures, and heavy grazing.
Soils: Adapted
to well-drained, loamy soils where precipitation is 8 inches or
more annually. Grows vigorously on a wide variety of soils. Crested
Wheatgrass varieties have been seeded more extensively than any
other species in Utah and the colder part of the West. Moderate
salt tolerance. Alkali tolerance in certain varieties. Low resistance
to high water tables, especially in the winter.
Associated Species:
Widespread
Uses and
Management:
Crested
wheatgrass provides good forage value for all classes of livestock,
and fair for wildlife. It cures well for use as winter forage, but
must be supplemented with phosphorus and /or protein as needed.
It is most valuable for early spring grazing for livestock and wildlife.
It is choice feed for deer during the spring, and elk in the winter,
providing a good source of energy.
Proper grazing use on better sites is 60 to 65 percent during growth
period and 70 percent during dormant periods.
Crested wheatgrass is excellent for soil protection and is used
for fast and reliable rehabilitation of watersheds. It is very competitive
and can often be used to suppress cheatgrass. It is susceptible
to herbivory if it is repeatedly grazed during it's stem elongation
growth phase every year. If alternately rested, it has been shown
to be highly resistant to grazing.
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