Crested Wheatgrass - A Grass For Early Pastures

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Crested wheatgrass is native to the dry and cold plains of Russia, western Siberia and central Asia. It was introduced to the Canadian Prairies during "the Dirty ‘30s," and many of these stands still exist today. Crested wheatgrass was a solution to many soil erosion problems.

As Saskatchewan landowners convert more of their annual cropland to forages, crested wheatgrass should be kept in mind when developing new pastures, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Forage Development Specialist, Glenn Barclay.

“A crested wheatgrass pasture, used exclusively for grazing first thing in the spring, can greatly reduce the grazing pressure on native range and tame pastures,” Barclay says. “Providing a period of rest for the other pastures will replenish growth and return vigour.”

Crested wheatgrass reaches full production about one month earlier than most native grasses. Studies at the Lethbridge Research Station in Alberta showed that crested wheatgrass produced about 90 per cent of its total annual yield before mid-June. In contrast, native range grasses do not normally reach their peak production until late June, and produce only 35 per cent of their total annual yield by mid-June.

“Having a crested wheatgrass pasture divided into two or more paddocks and situated close to a home base is a good idea,” says Barclay. “It will provide early spring grazing that is easy to monitor, and will allow moving cattle to another crested wheatgrass paddock when required. Remember that different paddocks should be used at the start of each grazing season so that the same paddock isn't used year after year."

The early growth of crested wheatgrass is high in protein, and is palatable to all classes of livestock. Palatability drops off markedly over the summer, as the plant matures and becomes dormant in hot weather. If a summer supplies lots of rain, the plant may maintain palatable growth throughout most of the season. Fall growth can also start quickly when wet weather arrives.

Barclay notes that is advisable not to seed another grass with crested wheatgrass in a new pasture.

“The grasses will grow and mature at different times, and be palatable at different times. Allowing crested wheatgrass to develop into coarse plants that are not consumed could result in under-utilization for next year's grazing season,” he says.

When the end of June arrives, the cattle should be moved onto the native range or tame pasture, Barclay points out.

“If there is sufficient carry-over or regrowth, the cattle can still graze the crested wheatgrass if needed," he says. "This trait can be very useful in drought years. During hot, dry periods, the grass can become dormant, and this trait reduces injury from the elements. It withstands close grazing and trampling, and it competes well with other plants.”

There are two species of crested wheatgrass: Agropyron cristatum, known as the Fairway type, and Agropyron desertorum, called the standard type. Both types are very hardy, long-lived perennial bunchgrasses that have a non-creeping, deep root system. The two species will not cross with each other.

The Fairway or diploid type is a finer-stemmed, leafier, lower-growing grass, and has more uniform growth than standard crested wheatgrass. It provides more complete ground cover than standard crested wheatgrass. The upper surfaces of the leaves of this crested wheatgrass are covered with fine hairs, and the plants are usually bright green in colour.

The standard or tetraploid type has a larger number of chromosomes in the cell nucleus than the Fairway type. This grass grows slightly taller than the Fairway type, and has a long, narrow seed head. The leaves of the standard type are not usually hairy. The tetraploid types remain greener than the diploid types under severe drought.

Barclay is quick to mention that crested wheatgrass does well on most soils, but it is most noted for its ability to establish itself on sandy soils.

“It has some tolerance to saline soils," he says, "but many other grass species are better adapted to that kind of environment. It will tolerate only seven to 10 days of spring flooding.”

Germination of crested wheatgrass is normally high if not seeded too deep. Seedlings are vigorous and develop rapidly under good growing conditions. If the conditions are dry, the seed will lie dormant in the soil until there is sufficient moisture for germination.

If crested wheatgrass is used for hay, cut it shortly after it comes into head or before blooming. The protein content of the grass decreases as it matures, and it becomes coarse.

Keep in mind that the bunching growth habit allows space for other plants to grow. Mixing a legume with crested wheatgrass can have satisfactory results.

For more information, contact:

The Agriculture Knowledge Centre
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
1-866-457-2377

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