Agropyron desertorum (Standard crested wheatgrass)
Cool season, long-lived, drought tolerant and extremely cold tolerant, perennial bunchgrass. Adapted to a wide range of sites but is most productive on well-drained, medium textured soils. Similar to A. cristatum but is slightly more cold, shade and moisture tolerant. Also, plants are later maturing and slightly more productive. Good palatability to livestock when green. Introduced extensively throughout the West. Varieties listed below.
DISTRIBUTION / ADAPTATION
INFORMATION & ATTRIBUTES
Family: Poaceae
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Graminoid
Native Status: Introduced
Season: Cool
Growth Form: Bunchgrass
Mature Height: 24 in.
Annual Precipitation: 6-16 in.
Drought Tolerance: High
Shade Tolerance: Intolerant
Elevation:
Fire Resistance: No
Fire Tolerance: High
SOIL ADAPTATION
Coarse Texture: Yes
Medium Texture: Yes
Fine Texture: Yes
Salinity Tolerance: Medium
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
pH Range: 6.0-8.2
SEEDING NOTES
Seeds per Pound: 194,100
Seeding Rate: 5-10 PLS lbs/acre
Season: Fall
Days to Germination:
VARIETIES
Hycrest - Hybrid between A. cristatum and A. desertorum. Taller, more robust than parental species. High forage yield, quick to develop. Better stand establishment, root development and seedling vigor than Nordan and Fairway varieties. (Released 1984, origin: Central Asia, former USSR)
Hycrest II - Improved seedling establishment and stand persistence under dryland conditions. Increased drought tolerance. (Released 2008, origin: from Hycrest variety)
Nordan - Good seedling vigor and forage producing abilities. Seed heads narrow and dense with short awns. (Released 1953, origin: Central Asia, former USSR)