Meadow Brome (Bromus biebersteinii) is a little known, cool-season grass that is native to southwestern Asia. Original seeds were collected in Turkey in 1949, and further study was conducted at the Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa. It was released for production in 1966 by the Idaho and Washington Agriculture Experiment Stations. It is classified as a rapid-developing long-lived grass for sub-humid and irrigated areas.
FACTS ABOUT MEADOW BROMEGRASS:
- Spring recovery is rapid and it forms heads earlier than some Smooth Brome varieties.
- Germination is rapid and seedlings establish quickly.
- Leaves are numerous, dominantly basal, and slightly pubescent.
- Meadow Bromegrass demonstrates outstanding recovery after cutting or grazing.
- Plants of Meadow Bromegrass are frost tolerant.
- Despite the pubescence of the plant, it is palatable to livestock.
- Meadow Bromegrass adapts well to many soil types and is slightly adapted to acid or mildly alkaline soils.
- All Meadow Bromegrass is susceptible to head smuts and seed should be treated with a fungicide before planting.
- Meadow Bromegrass is drought tolerant.
- Meadow Bromegrass is adapted for use as hay or pasture or irrigated lands or dryland that receives 16 or more inches of annual precipitation.
VARIETY
Regar is a long-lived, rapid-developing leafy forage plant that spreads by short rhizomes. The seed germinates readily to produce strong seeding, which rapidly develop.few seeds are produced the first year of establishment. Seed yields are highest the year after establishment, and afterwards amounts decline rapidly. Regar rapidly recovers after mowing or grazing. Regar was released from the Plant Materials Center in Aberdeen, Idaho. Its usage is becoming widespread in the western United States.
ESTABLISHMENT/MANAGEMENT
Management of Meadow Bromegrass is similar to that of other cool-season grass. When planting good seed to soil contact is essential. The seeds are larger than Smooth Bromegrass.
New seedlings should not be grazed until the plants are fully established. Leave a 6 inch stubble to maintain plant vigor and to provide a barrier against too close grazing. Allow plants to make 10-12 inch growth each spring prior to grazing and allow 3-4 weeks of regrowth between each grazing.
