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THICKSPIKE <br />WHEATGRASS <br />Elymus macrourus <br /> <br />o <br />v <br />ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION <br />Native of western U.S. drought-tolerant, cool <br />season, long-lived, perennial sod-former. Very <br />similar to western wheatgrass in life-form and <br />appearance. Single-stemmed to small tufted, <br />up to 3' tall, with widely spreading rhizomes. <br />Leaf blades narrow, usually inrolled and <br />scabrous, mostly green but sometimes blue- <br />green. Inflorescence an erect, terminal spike <br />up to 8" long. <br />GROWTH HABITS AND ENVIRON- <br />MENTAL PREFERENCES <br />Medium to coarse-textured soils, including <br />sandy soils, but considered adapted for seeding <br />on clayey soils. Tolerant of weakly saline soils. <br />Occurs on well-drained sites with water tables at <br />3' or greater depths but moderately tolerant of <br />early spring flooding. Native stands occur in the m <br />6 to 20" ppt. and seeded strains believed best <br />e? <br />adapted to the 12 to 18" ppt. Wide elevational W <br />occurrence, near sea level near Great Lakes to <br />10,000' in the Wasatch Range. <br />CULTURE <br />Drill seed 1/2" deep on fine-textured soils and ,.d <br />up to 1" deep on coarser soils. Cover broadcast- <br />ed seed shallow. Supplemental mulch and light <br />(D <br />irrigation on erosive and droughty sites ensure <br />better establishment. Use 5 to 10 lbs. PLS per <br />acre seed rate for rangelands. Rate should be <br />increased 50 - 100 % for broadcasting with this Q, <br />species. Drill seed either in early spring, late p <br />fall, or late summer-early fall (Aug.-Sept.) with <br />ample moisture. Weeds need to be controlled on <br />new seedings. Avoid grazing of seedling stands o <br />until they are firmly rooted and headed. <br />N <br />Cn <br />USE AND MANAGEMENT -4 <br />Special purpose grass used for soil stabilization <br />of disturbed lands, including roadsides, airports, <br />recreation areas, and construction receiving lit- <br />tle maintenance. Also used for drier parts of <br />ditches, canals, and waterways, ski slopes and <br />for mine spoils. Palatability good in summer <br />and fair in winter for cattle, good palatability to <br />elk yearlong, but only fair to deer in spring. <br />Starts growth in spring and matures about 3 <br />weeks earlier than western wheatgrass. Makes <br />fair summer and good fall regrowth. <br />Moderate spring-fall grazing and rotation graz- <br />ing recommended for ranges in satisfactory con- <br />dition. Deferred grazing, (only in fall), pre- <br />scribed to improve ranges in unsatisfactory con- <br />dition. <br />IMPROVED VARIETIES <br />`Critana' released from Montana and Wyoming. <br />Bannock' released from Idaho, Oregon, and <br />Washington. <br />83