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Botanical Name: Agropyron elongatum
Cultivars: Alkar, Jose, VNS
Tall Wheatgrass (agropyron elongatum) is an introduced wheatgrass, brought into the United States from Turkey and the U.S.S.R. it is a tall, vigorous, cool-season, bunch-grass that is the latest maturing grass adapted to the continental climatic areas of the Western United States. Tall Wheatgrass is especially tolerant of saline and alkali soils and high yields are obtained even to elevations of 7,500 feet. Plants mature late in the season, producing a large seed that is easily planted. On strong alkali or under drought conditions, leaves become a darker blue-green, but with adequate moisture and fertility, growth will begin early and continue into the late summer.
- Tall Wheatgrass has an exceptionally high tolerance to saline, saline-alkali, or alkali soils.
- Tall Wheatgrass can be used for pasture, silage or “standing hay” for wintering cattle.
- It is often used in the reclamation of saline-alkali lands
- When used for pasture, best utilization is obtained from pure stands of Tall Wheatgrass
- Tall Wheatgrass is being used by state conservation departments for upland game cover. Pheasants use it extensively for food and cover, especially in the winter.
- Tall Wheatgrass stays green up to 30 days longer than other wheatgrass, even on imperfectly drained soils. Once established it withstands inundation if there is no silting.
- Seeds are large but seedlings are often slow to establish.
Varieties
Alkar is recommended for use in the Pacific Northwest. It is the most widely used cultivar in the intermountain region. Because of its late maturity, it requires season-long water to produce. It has been used to reclaim saline and alkali waste.
Jose is a somewhat less coarse and earlier maturing variety than other Tall Wheatgrass cultivars.
VNS
ESTABLISHMENT/MANAGEMENT
On saline soils, saltgrass should be eliminated, good drainage provided, and the salts leached or flushed off. Stands are best established in good seedbeds with deep furrow drill in early spring. The seedlings are slow to establish and light irrigation at 2 to 3 day intervals in the furrows is required until seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall. With surface irrigation, salts from the soil accumulate on the ridges, allowing the seeds in the bottom of the furrow to sprout and grow. Continuous irrigation reduces salt concentration. Planting without irrigation is possible if adequate precipitation occurs. On less salty soils, Tall Wheatgrass is often planted with alfalfa in alternate rows.
Seedlings require one full season of protection before grazing use, two seasons of dry sites. Tall wheatgrass fields should be fenced from other fields to get good utilization. When more palatable species are available, Tall Wheatgrass will only be sparsely utilized. When new growth is 8 to 10 inches high, spring grazing can begin. When plants start to head, pastures should be clipped back to an 8 inch stubble.
Tall Wheatgrass production will drop rapidly from year to year unless a high level of soil nitrogen is present. The usual rater is 40 to 80 pounds/acre as determined by a soil test. Nitrogen additions will greatly increase production and the amount of cover.
