General Description

Altai wildrye is a long-lived bunch grass with an extensive root system. It is noted for its high salinity tolerance, capacity to withstand drought, and ability to stay green into the fall. Stems are up to 120 cm (4 ft) tall with mostly basal leaf growth. Leaves are stiff, upright and green to blue-green. Seed heads are thick spikes. Seeds produced are large and shatter easily from the seed head. Altai wildrye has wider, stiffer leaves on more robust plants than Russian wildrye.   

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Siberia and Mongolia. Varieties developed in Canada.

Longevity

At least 20 years. Establishment difficult and slow.

Use

Pasture, stockpiled.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer, fall, winter. Altai wildrye grows slower in the spring than many other grasses, but can be grazed once sufficient basal leaves grow. Altai wildrye can be continually or rotationally grazed. Altai wildrye stockpiles well because of its long basal upright leaves that cure well remain accessible for livestock.

Recovery After Use

Requires a minimum 60-80 days of recovery after use. Leave at least 15 cm (6 in) for regrowth to occur. A lighter summer grazing followed by stockpiling can produce a modest yield of high quality forage.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Altai wildrye’s palatability is higher later in the growing season than in spring. A lighter summer grazing followed by stockpiling can produce a modest yield of high quality forage. Altai wildrye has approximately 65% dry matter digestibility and 10% crude protein at maturity in the fall. Quality is held into the winter.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

300mm / 460mm

Drought Tolerance

High tolerance. Deep roots (up to 10 feet deep) can take advantage of deep soil moisture and high water tables. Continues to grow slowly and stay green.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands one to two weeks of spring flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Excellent hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Altai wildrye establishes best on loam and clay soils, but will grow on all soil textures. It will have excellent production in dry areas with high water tables. Although it can thrive on sandy soils, it requires good moisture during establishment years.

Erosion Control

Limited to no use for erosion control.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Moderate to high tolerance.

Seeds per kg

133,000 seeds/kg (60,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Altai wildrye is often seeded alone or in a simple mix with species such as alfalfa or cicer milkvetch. Seeding other forages at 90 degree angles to the altai wildrye rows can decrease interspecies competition.

Ease of Establishment

Altai wildrye seedlings are slow growing and hard to establish. This is a major limiting factor in the use of Altai wildrye. It competes poorly with weeds, companion crops or other forage seedlings. It is noted to take up to three years to fully establish for use.

Competitiveness

Altai wildrye is competitive once established. It is a very poor competitor while establishing.

Management Considerations

Attentive management of competition during establishment will result in adequate plant populations for optimal production. Altai wildrye remains most productive if it is grazed in the fall. Although a long standing species, it has never been wide spread in popularity.

General Description

Tall wheatgrass is a long-lived, tall, perennial bunchgrass. It is most often used for rehabilitation of moist or flooded saline areas as it is a top saline tolerant species. It can also be found on dry roadsides and slopes. It has an extensive fibrous root system that can grow 300 cm (118 in) into the soil. Plants form a “bunch” that increases in size with age. 

Tall wheatgrass stems are coarse and grow 100 to 300 cm tall (39 to 118 in). Short leaves are found up the stem. Long leaves grow from a basal bunch. Leaves are 2 to 6.5 mm wide with short hairs that make them scratchy to the touch. Leaves remain green late into the growing season. The seed heads can be over 30 cm (12 in) in length and form a stiff narrow spike, with long gaps between spikelets. Seeds are large and do not shatter easily.

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Saline meadows of Southern Russia. Varieties have been developed in Canada.

Longevity

At least 20 years. Tall wheatgrass is long lived under ideal growing conditions, but dry conditions, such as found in the Brown soil zone, shorten its lifespan (at least 10 years longevity).

Use

Pasture, hay, reclamation. Tall wheatgrass is primarily used for saline area reclamation, but may then be used off those saline areas for pasture or hay.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer. Tall wheatgrass begins growing in early spring but is slow to grow. It is often grown in moist areas that would be sensitive to early use. Hay before heading for best palatability as it becomes coarse once mature. Tall wheatgrass is best grazed before the stems elongate when most growth is basal, leaving 15 cm (6 in) of growth post-grazing.  Once stems grow, tall wheatgrass becomes coarse and avoided by livestock.

Recovery After Use

Recovery after use is slow for tall wheatgrass. In most situations, tall wheatgrass is best used once per year, but may only need 60-80 days of recovery in the higher rainfall soil zones.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Palatable before stems elongate (heading). Livestock may select against tall wheatgrass in mixes at any stage. Leaves are notably tough. Tall wheatgrass has an average early season digestibility of 47% and crude protein of 10.6%.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

250mm / 700mm

Drought Tolerance

Fair tolerance. While tall wheatgrass can live through drought periods, it cannot survive through very dry conditions.

Flooding Tolerance

Tall wheatgrass can withstand up to 5 weeks of flooding in spring. It has good tolerance for excess soil moisture and grows best in moist soils.

Winter Hardiness

Good hardiness. Hardiness is not noted as a concern with tall wheatgrass even though it is less hardy than some grasses such as crested wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and creeping red fescue.

Soil Texture Preference

Tall wheatgrass prefers loam to clay moist soils. It can tolerate high water tables.

Erosion Control

Very little erosion control.  Tall wheatgrass is sometimes used for roadside ditches, but is a large bunchgrass and does not spread outwards.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance. Tall wheatgrass has the highest salt tolerance of all introduced agronomic grass species (green wheatgrass is considered equal).

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low to moderate tolerance.

Seeds per kg

166,000 seeds/kg (75,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Seed tall wheatgrass for saline site reclamation. Seed the most saline areas to a pure stand or best mix with other moderately saline tolerant species such as slender wheatgrass, dahurian wildrye, tall fescue, smooth bromegrass and intermediate wheatgrass or pubescent wheatgrass. Saline tolerant varieties of alfalfa can be included in the mix as they will establish where it is less saline. When used in a mixture, livestock may select against tall wheatgrass as it matures.

Ease of Establishment

Tall wheatgrass is slow to germinate and seedlings do not compete well with weeds. Two years are recommended for establishment before use, especially in harsh areas such as saline soils.

Competitiveness

Tall wheatgrass is competitive in saline soils once it is established. It does not usually reseed itself and is not considered invasive.

Management Considerations

Effective weed control may be necessary for establishment as tall wheatgrass seedlings may take two years to fully establish. Irrigation and fertilization can enhance production. While tall wheatgrass has high salinity tolerance it does not grow well on dry sites.

General Description

Russian wildrye is a large, cool season, introduced, long-lived, perennial bunchgrass. It is well suited for pasture and stockpiled grazing. The roots are fibrous and may establish to a depth of 1.9 to 2.6 m (6 to 8 ft). However, about 75% of the roots are in the surface 15 to 60 cm (6 to 24 in.). Russian wildrye roots have an extended horizontal spread and may draw heavily on soil moisture for a distance of up to 1.3 to 1.6 m (4 to 5 ft). Its long season of growth and its vigorous soil-feeding habit make this species an excellent competitor with weeds once the grass is well established. 

Russian wildrye has an abundance of long, dense, basal leaves that are from 15 to 45 cm (6 to 18 in) long and up to 0.6 cm (1/4 in) in width. Plants vary from light to dark green, with many shades of blue-green. The erect, leafless reproductive stems are about 75 to 100 cm (30 to 39 in) tall. 

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Siberia. Varieties developed in Canada.

Longevity

At least 20 years.

Use

Pasture, stockpiled. A versatile forage for dryland pastures. The bulk of its forage production remains close to the ground, making it unsuitable for hay production.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring, fall, winter. Russian wildrye can be continually or rotationally grazed. Spring growth is somewhat later than crested wheatgrass. Basal growth allows for leaves to remain palatable into the later months.

Recovery After Use

Requires a minimum 60-80 days of recovery after use. After early spring grazing 8 to 10 cm (3-4 in) will allow for regrowth ability. Fall regrowth is typically better than crested wheatgrass in the Brown soil zone.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Most palatable in the spring and fall, Russian wildrye cures well on the stem and maintains good nutritional value into the winter making it useful as a stockpiled pasture forage. Its higher digestibility and wider season of use may compensate for a lower forage yield. Russian wildrye has an average digestibility of 66% and crude protein of 14% in the early summer.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

200mm / 1150mm

Drought Tolerance

Excellent tolerance. Russian wildrye has excellent drought tolerance once established similar to crested wheatgrass.

Flooding Tolerance

Tolerates saturated soils for 1 week in the spring.

Winter Hardiness

Excellent hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Russian wildrye is best suited to loamy to heavy clays soils. If it can establish on a sandy site such as when it is sub-irrigated or there is a wet establishment year, Russian wildrye can be productive and long lived on coarse-textured soils.

Erosion Control

Russian wildrye is not suitable for erosion control.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance. Russian wildrye is one of the more saline tolerant grasses for drier sites.

Acidity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Seeds per kg

358,000 seeds/kg (162,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Russian wildrye is unique in that it is a poor competitor while establishing and then out competes other species when established. Seeding Russian wildrye shallow and then seeding other species at 90 degrees (cross ways) can benefit all the species. Alfalfa, sainfoin or cicer milkvetch can complement Russian wildrye in a mix.

Ease of Establishment

Russian wildrye can be difficult to establish as seedlings are slow and not vigorous. Seed shallow. Allow one to two years for establishment before using. Control of weeds and competition from other plants before seeding and after seeding when possible.

Competitiveness

Russian wildrye is very competitive once established. Russian wildrye is a bunch grass that does not spread outwards. Despite not spreading it will out compete other species for moisture and nutrients as the stand ages.

Management Considerations

Although wide row spacings were recommended in the past, it is now a best practice to seed Russian wildrye at a normal row spacing (12 inch or less). Seeding with cover crops may decrease long term Russian Wildrye plant populations, but provide forage in the early years. Russian wildrye has a relatively low yield response to fertilizer.

General Description

Green wheatgrass is a cross of Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) and Agropyron repens (quackgrass). NewHy is a synthetic cross made in the United States. AC Saltlander is a natural hybrid that was collected in Europe and further selections were done in the United States and Canada. All following information on green wheatgrass is based on AC Saltlander type green wheatgrass. 

Green wheatgrass is an introduced perennial forage grass that demonstrates exceptional salinity tolerance. Its extensive, creeping root system can dewater saline areas and spread out, covering the ground to compete with unwanted, unproductive or unpalatable plants. Green wheatgrass is a tall (75 cm/ 30 in) upright plant. Leaves are smooth with no hairs. The leaves are generally 5-13 mm (0.02-0.05 in) wide. Green wheatgrass has tall, spiked seed heads similar to intermediate wheatgrass. In addition, AC Saltlander is productive, palatable, and has good nutritional qualities.

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Originally developed in Canada and the United States from cross between quackgrass (Elymus repens) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata).

Longevity

At least 20 years.

Use

Pasture, hay.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring, summer. Green wheatgrass begins growing early in the spring. Graze green wheatgrass before heading. Hay green wheatgrass as it comes into flower. Vegetative regrowth may be used again. Currently, there is no research confirming the suitability for fall grazing or stockpiled grazing. However, the practice may be possible.

Recovery After Use

Requires a minimum 60-80 days of recovery after use. If green wheatgrass is initially grazed late in the growing season, regrowth is substantially less. Green wheatgrass has low growing points and is moderately tolerant to intensive grazing.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Green wheatgrass has good palatability and quality. Grazing studies have now proven palatability holds until at least late summer. Green wheatgrass average quality is to be 15-19% crude protein, approximately 50% NDF and 60-67% digestibility.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

Limits have not been established. 300mm per year has been sufficient.

Drought Tolerance

Good tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands 2-5 weeks of spring flooding once established.

Winter Hardiness

Good hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Adapted to all soil textures.

Erosion Control

High ability to control erosion. Creeping roots bind the soil.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance. Salinity tolerance was a primary selection criterion when being developed. AC Saltlander green wheatgrass salinity tolerance equals that of tall wheatgrass.

Acidity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Unknown

Seeds per kg

244,000 seeds/kg (111,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Green wheatgrass is a strong competitor in a mix, including with alfalfa. It is a stronger competitor than intermediate wheatgrass or crested wheatgrass. A typical mixture in low to moderate salinity is a salt tolerant alfalfa, while in moderate to severe salinity a typical mixture would include slender wheatgrass.

Ease of Establishment

Green wheatgrass seedlings are vigorous and establish easily. It spreads by rhizomes to fill in areas between plants.

Competitiveness

Green wheatgrass is very competitive, even on saline sites. It has the ability to outcompete foxtail barley and downy brome. It spreads by rhizomes significantly less than quackgrass. Its ability to spread into native habitats (upland and riparian) has not been well studied.

Management Considerations

Green wheatgrass was developed for use in saline areas, and is best served being seeded on such sites. Invasiveness may be a concern when planting green wheatgrass adjacent to natural areas or across an entire field.

General Description

Dahurian wildrye is a short-lived, shallow-rooted perennial bunchgrass. It tends to be a less used species even through it establishes quickly. Dahurian wildrye and slender wheatgrass are now classified within the same genus.  

The stems of Dahurian wildrye are erect and can grow to 100 to 150 cm (39 to 60 in) high. The leaves are 11 to 15 mm wide with prominent veining, and lax with long (130 to 235 mm or 5 to 9 in) leaf sheaths and internodes. The leaves are high on the stem. The seed is generally longer and wider than that of Russian wildrye, Psathyrostachys juncea, and frequently has awns 10 to 20 mm (.4 to .8 in) in length.

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Siberia, Mongolia, China. Varieties “James” and “Arthur” developed in Canada.

Longevity

Less than 5 years. Low persistence.

Use

Pasture, hay. Dahurian wildrye is used primarily for short-term pasture or hay forage, but because of its adaptability, ease of establishment, and shorter life span, it may have some application in restoration. It can establish very quickly.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring, summer. Dahurian wildrye can be continually grazed, but responds best to rotational grazing for maximized regrowth. Dahurian wildrye begins growth early and should be grazed before it gets coarse. It can be used in the year of establishment, especially under moister site conditions. Hay at heading for best palatabilty.

Recovery After Use

Requires a minimum 30 to 60 days of recovery after use. Dahurian wildrye is quick to regrow and can be grazed 2 to 3 times within the season, soil zone dependant.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Dahurian wildrye is quite palatable and has good forage quality when it is growing. Palatability decreases after heading. Unlike Russian wildrye, it does not cure well standing, although when cut at the immature stage hay quality may be as good as crested wheatgrass.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

300mm / 600mm

Drought Tolerance

Good tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstand up to 4 weeks of flooding in the spring. Tolerates moist soils well.

Winter Hardiness

Good hardiness. Short longevity overall.

Soil Texture Preference

Dahurian wildrye can be grown on a wide range of soil textures.

Erosion Control

Dahurian wildrye is not suitable for erosion control. 

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Seeds per kg

194,000 seeds/kg (88,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Suitable for mixtures. Dahurian wildrye can be paired with other short lived forages for a short lived stand. Otherwise, use Dahurian wildrye as a short lived, starter species with long lived forages that will take over a stand as Dahurian wildrye dies out. Darhurian wildrye will compete strongly in a new stand.

Ease of Establishment

Dahurian wildrye is easily established, has excellent seedling vigour, and is very competitive with other crops such as legumes.

Competitiveness

Dahurian wildrye is very competitive in the year of establishment but becomes less competitive as the stand ages. It will die out of the stand in less than 5 years. Dahurian wildrye is not considered invasive.

Management Considerations

Dahurian wildrye is sometimes seeded in wide or perpendicular rows with other longer-lived perennials to provide additional forage in the first year of establishment. Manage for short term use.