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INDIAN RICEGRASS <br />Achnatherum hymenoides <br />?s 1, t 7 # <br />I ? <br />1 ' <br />?! r r r <br />ii ? f r 0.r <br />f 1 a..r <br />5 i 3•• I 'i?' i <br />15 ?? I•? I •1. <br />1 ! f + 1, V s <br />ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION <br />Native widely distributed, cool season, medi- <br />um-sized bunchgrass and mixed with other <br />grasses in semiarid western U.S. Densely tufted <br />1 to 2.5' tall with numerous elongated leaves <br />nearly as long as stems. Panicle type head bear- <br />ing one flowered spikelets at the end of each <br />branchlet. Short awns, plump seed nearly black <br />at maturity. <br />GROWTH HABITS AND ENVIRON- <br />MENTAL PREFERENCES <br />Thrives on loose, coarse sands and sandy and <br />silty soils. A pioneer on thin fractured shale and <br />sandstone parent materials as well as many <br />sandy soils. Not too competative but very <br />drought resistant. Common in deserts with 6 to <br />16" ppt. Tolerant of weak salinity and alkalinity <br />m <br />but better on neutral soils. Not tolerant of poor- <br />e? <br />ly drained or high water table sites. Does not W <br />like shade. Occurs at 2,000 to 10,000' elevation; <br />often local ecotypes best adapted in general <br />a. <br />region of use. <br />A <br />CULTURE <br /> <br />Drill seed 1 - 2" deep on medium to coarse "d <br />soils. Cover similarly if broadcast. Seed 5 to 10 0 <br /> <br />lbs. PLS per acre and double if broadcast seed- CD <br />ing. On some sites even higher rates may be <br />needed to obtain desired cover. Fall dormant 'C"n' <br />planting help germination (high seed dorman- p„ <br />cy). Needs to be planted in non-volunteering p <br />stubble in wind erosion areas. Mulching and <br />supplemental irrigation helpful for rapid soil <br />stabilization. Control weeds and do not graze o <br />until plants are well rooted. Plants may be up- 66 <br /> <br />rooted if grazed too early. N <br /> <br /> <br />USE AND MANAGEMENT <br />Used for forage, seeding dry sites and stabiliz- <br />ing sandy soils and mine tailings. Native stands <br />occur in certain sandy and fractured rockland <br />sites of drier areas of Great Plains, Great Basin <br />and Pacific Northwest. These areas may be <br />grazed seasonally or yearlong. Often difficult to <br />obtain low cost seed with high germination. To <br />prolong life of stands, allow plants to reseed <br />occasionally. Moderately graze in winter to <br />maintain good ground cover. Very palatable to <br />livestock and elk. <br />IMPROVED VARIETIES <br />`Nezpar' released from Idaho. <br />`Paloma' released from New Mexico and <br />Colorado. <br />`Rimrock' released from Utah. <br />63