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Western Wheatgrass
(Agropyron smithii)
Western Wheatgrass is a native cool season perennial sod forming grass. It reproduces from underground rhizomes and seed. Growth starts in early fall, remains green
in the winter and has most growth occur in the spring reaching a height of one to four feet. Recommended planting rate is 7 to 10 pure live seed pounds per acre, 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inches deep. The seeds are rough but can be planted with a regular seed drill.
All classes of livestock find Western Wheatgrass a nutritious forage, palat- able especially in springtime when forage is green. Western Wheatgrass can stand closer grazing than most native grasses.
Western Wheatgrass grows in areas ranging from the Texas Panhandle as far north as Canada and from the Great Lakes Region to the west coast. It can be found growing on hillsides, plains, and often found in old lake beds and well drained bottom lands.
It is the most drought tolerant of the cool season grasses. It is moderately alkaline tolerant; therefore it is a good choice for reclamation of surface mine spoil sites.
‘Arriba’ is an aggressive sod forming grass with good seeding vigor and is an impor- tant conservation plant. With adequate moisture it provides large amounts of nutritious forage. It is best adapted to all of Colorado, Western Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.
‘Barton’ is an intermediate height, leafy grass. Test have indicated Barton to be more disease resistant and a better forage producer than most of the other variet- ies. Barton is used throughout the United States especially in the Texas and Central Plains States.