Western Wheatgrass, Barton
Agropyron smithii (Grasses)
Barton Western Wheatgrass is strongly rhizomatous, imtermediate in growth and a leafy ecotype. Barton is relatively disease free and high in forage and seed production. Western Wheatgrass is a cool season species that starts growing in May and June when the temperatures reach approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit. It grows in a variety of soils, especially clay, and is found in most of the United States, except the southeast. It is a native grass whose major range is in the northern and central Great Plains.
Western Wheatgrass is good forage for cattle, elk, horses, and sheep, but only fair quality food for pronghorn antelope. It is platable to deer only in the spring. In lake summer the quality of the forage
diminishes considerably. For forage Western Wheatgrass is preferred by cattle more than by sheep. If the stand is very thick, Western Wheatgrass makes excellent hay as well as pasture. This grass cures well and will therefore provide good winter grazing or hay. Weatern Wheatgrass can be grazed if 50 to 60 percent of the annual growth is allowed to remain. Grazed stubble should be no shorter than 4 inches. It is also commonly used to seed roadside ditches and to reclaim other disturbed areas.
Western Wheatgrass is a rhizomatous grass with excellent salt tolerance and drought tolerance. Western Wheatgrass will tolerate spring flooding and moderately acid conditions. It is considered to be a valuable grass for both forage and revegetagion of disturbed sites. Varities: Rosana, Barton, Arriba, Flintlock, Rodan and native Wheatgrass is available when harvested.
Western Wheatgrass Is a cool-season, sod-forming grass. It is a major range grass in the northern and central Great Plains, where it is used for pasture, hay, and erosion control. Western Wheatgrass develops slowly from seed, is drought resistant, and has moderate alkali tolerance. Recommended Seeding Rate for Western Wheatgrass is 5 to 15 PLS lbs. per acre drilled depending on the individual situation. to the acre. Plant 1/2 inch deep in fine to medium soil.
Western Wheatgrass seeding vigor is fair and stands may be slow to establish. It's roots are strong but spreads slowly and make take several years to become firmly established. Once established, it is very hardy and enduring. It is moderately compatible with other species and is moderately agressive.
Western Wheatgrass greens up in March or early April and matures in August. If nitrogen is applied it will compete with warm season grasses. Western Wheatgrass tolerates saline and saline-sodic soils, poit drainage and moderately severe drought. It will tolerate spring flooding, high water tables, and considerable silt deposition. It is very cold hardy and can grown in partial shade. In the dormant stage is is grazing resistant and can survive fires if in the dormant stage. Recovery from fire is slow however.
Western Wheatgrass grows in association with many species. The more common grasses associated with Western Wheatgrass are blue grama, buffalograss, nedlegrasses, bluebunch wheatgrass, rough fescue, Idaho fescue and prairie junegrass.
Western Wheatgrass performs poorly in the East and is not recommended for any use in the region.
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Cool-season native grass |
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Used in reclamation plantings |
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Spreads by rhizomes |
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Drought-tolerant |
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Saline and Alkaline tolerant |
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Erosion control |
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Surface mine revegetation |
Height36-60 Inches
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Spread24-36 Inches
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Growing & Maintenance TipsWestern Wheatgrass goes dormant in the summer, and will begin growing again in the fall when temperatures cool. Western Wheatgrass is a perennial that reproduces both sexually, with seeds, and asexually, with underground stems, called rhizomes . Single grass stems arise from the spreading rhizomes.
The vigorous rhizomes characteristic of the species make it very tolerant of grazing pressure by domestic and wild animals. In fact, moderate grazing stimulates production of new sprouts and increases the vigor of the plant. Because Western Wheatgrass sprouts from rhizomes, it can recover quickly from prolonged drought. It often is the first species to fill areas that have lost vegetation due to long dry spells.
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