Crested wheatgrass /

Abstract

urestea wneatgrass (Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum and related species) is the most commonly used perennial grass species for range revegetation in the western United States. It is a bunchgrass of intermediate height that starts growth early in the spring, has high drought resistance, and is not injured by severe frosts. It is quite palatable and nutritious to both livestock and game animals in the spring and early summer. In addition to providing forageforlivestock, it has been effective in revegetating highway roadsides, controlling erosion, and providing cover for wildlife. My own experience with crested wheatgrass dates back to my early boyhood days when I lived on a cattle ranch in central Oregon near the Crooked River. Much of the range-land in the area was highly deteriorated from over grazing. My folks reseeded some of their land to crested wheatgrass in the late 1950's. The seedings were successful and improved the ranch's forage resource by 4 to 5 fold. In addition the nutritional status and productivity of our livestock was enhanced because high quality spring forage was available. In the mid-i 970's I worked with strip-mine spoils reclamation in southeastern Montana. Crested wheatgrass was