Mammoth Wildrye

http://plants.usda.gov/� distribution in North America, consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Mammoth wildrye spike. Mark Stannard, USDA-NRCS Pullman WAPMC

Adaptation

Mammoth wildrye is adapted to areas that receive at least 7 inches of mean annual precipitation throughout most of the western United States. It performs best on well drained neutral to somewhat alkaline soils. Mammoth wildrye thrives in sandy soils and is very tolerant of sand deposition. It can be grown on loam, silt loam and clay loam soils but vegetative spread by rhizomes diminishes on heavier soils. It is not adapted to coastal areas. Mammoth wildrye tolerates fire fairly well because the leaves and stems remain green during the summer fire season and it does not combust as readily as most other plants (Pullman Plant Materials Center). Stevens et.al (2004) indicated that mammoth wildrye is suitable for riparian restoration and rated tolerant of salinity and flooding. Mammoth wildrye spike top, basin wildrye spike bottom. Mark Stannard, USDA-NRCS, Pullman WAPMC.

Establishment

Proper seedbed preparation, irrigation scheduling and weed management are required to establish mammoth wildrye. Kochia and Russian thistle can be troublesome during establishment of mammoth wildrye. Broadleaf herbicides effectively control both weeds. Mowing mammoth wildrye is not recommended for controlling weeds. Use sprigs and rhizome sections to plant and stabilize active sand dunes. Plant sprigs and rhizomes are planted only during cool weather while they are dormant and the site is moist to 18 inch soil depth, usually mid-November to mid-March. Mammoth wildrye can also be seeded. There are approximately 55,000 seeds per pound (PLANTS database) and the recommended full seeding rate is 15 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre to a seeding depth of ½ to ¾inch (Ogle, et. al 2010). If used as a component of a seeding mix, adjust to percent of mix desired. For critical area stabilization or broadcast planting, double the drill seeding rate to 30 pounds PLS per acre. Seeding should be completed in late fall as a dormant seeding on course textured soils. It has been determined that mammoth wildrye has developed an important seedling desiccation strategy to survive harsh conditions, most notably erosion of sand. Seedlings have the ability to survive and develop even after the whole seedling has been under desiccation for a long period (approximately 20-40 days), if the root is <15mm long prior to dehydration. If roots are longer than 15 mm, the seedling will not survive (Huang and Gutterman, 2004).

Management

Mammoth wildrye is not generally considered a forage plant. The leaves and stems are very coarse, have low palatability, and are high in indigestible structural carbohydrates (Pullman Plant Materials Center), (Jefferson, et.al, 2004). However, grazing animals will eat mammoth wildrye if no other forage is available. Jack rabbits will consume new growth of mammoth wildrye and often pull young plants out of the ground. Monsen et.al (2004) indicated that mammoth wildrye has fair palatability during the spring and summer. Grazing should be excluded from erosion control plantings (Hafenrichter, et.al, 1968).

Pests and Potential Problems

Mammoth wildrye is susceptible to infection of ergot from the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Ergot infection can significantly reduce seed yields and the fungal sclerotia contain a variety of alkaloids. Consumption of the alkaloids can result in reproductive failure, gangrene and other serious maladies in grazing animals (Mihail, 1993).

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Mammoth wildrye spreads primarily by rhizomes and to a much lesser degree by seed into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions, For control, contact your local extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Mammoth Wildrye., Always read label and safety instructions for each control method,

Plant Production

Proper seedbed preparation (weed-free and firm), irrigation scheduling and weed management are required to establish mammoth wildrye. On moving sand dunes and non-stabilized areas, use sprigs and rhizomes for stand establishment. For maximum sprig and rhizome production, plants should be grown under cultivation on irrigated sites. Two years are required to grow suitable sized sprigs and rhizomes for harvest.

Handling Harvested Plant Materials

All of the old growth, coarse roots and stems with seedheads are removed. Leafy tops are cut to leave a 16 inch stem and are tied in bundles, heeled in, or kept cool and moist until planting time. Plants are dug (harvested), processed and planted only during cool weather while sprigs and rhizomes are dormant and the site to be planted is moist to 18 inch soil depth, usually mid-November to mid-March.

Seed Production

Plant mammoth wildrye seed at 8-10 pounds PLS per acre in 30-36 inch rows, to a seeding depth of ½ to ¾ inch. This seeding rate is equivalent to approximately 30 seeds per linear foot of row. To facilitate seed production and between-row weed control, it is desirable to plant in spaced rows instead of a solid stand. Cultivation is required to maintain rows and weed-free conditions. Seed is usually harvested in August by swathing to allow the seed to complete maturity followed by combining. Mammoth wildrye seed requires a brief after-ripening (one month) and stratification (1-2 weeks at 40 degrees F.). Seed can be stored under cool and dry conditions for 11-15 years without serious loss of germination or vigor (Jorgenson, 2004). Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) ‘Volga’ was selected and released from the Pullman, Washington Plant Materials Center in 1949. The original seed collection was made in the lower Volga region of the former USSR by the Westover-Enlow expedition in 1934. The most vigorous plants from the original collection were selected during several generations followed by vegetative reproduction for the most desirable type. Volga was initially released as vegetative material for inland dune control and in 1986 the release was modified to include seed propagation. The Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center at Meeker, Colorado produces and distributes Foundation seed (Alderson and Sharp, 1994). Agriculture Handbook No. 339 USDA-SCS 1979.

References

Alderson, J., Sharp, W.C. 1994. Grass Varieties in the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 170. USDA-SCS. Washington, D.C. Flora of China. 2006. 22:387-394. Hafenrichter, A.L., J.L. Schwendiman, H.L. Harris, R.S. MacLauchlan, H. W. Miller. 1968. Grasses and Legumes for Soil

Conservation

in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin States. Agriculture Handbook No. 339. USDA-SCS. Washington, D.C. Huang, Z, and Y. Gutterman. 2004. Seedling desiccation tolerance of Leymus racemosus (Poaceae) (wildrye), a perennial sand-dune grass inhabiting the Junggar Basin of Xinjian, China. Seed Science Research 14:233-239. Jefferson, P.G., W.P. McCaughey, K. May, J. Woosaree and L. McFarlane. 2004. Forage Quality of seeded native grasses in the fall season on the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Can. J. Plant Sci. 84:503-509. Jorgenson, K. and R. Stevens. 2004. Seed Collection, Cleaning, and Storage. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS – GTR-136. P. 699-716. Liu, Zhipeng, Z. Chen, J. Pan, X. Li, M. Su, L. Wang, Li and G. Liu. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships in Leymus (Poaceae: Triticeae) revealed by nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer and chloroplast trnL-F sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46(2008) 278-289. Science Direct. www.sciencedirect.com Mihail, J.D. 1993. Diseases of alternative crops in Missouri. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 15:119-122. Monsen, S., R. Stevens, and N. Shaw. 2004. Grasses. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech Rep. RMRS-GTR-136. P. 199-294. PLANTS Database. Conservation plant characteristics for Leymus racemosus. [Online] Available at http://plants.usda.gov (accessed 25 August 2010. Pullman Plant Material Center. Release brochure for Volga Mammoth wildrye. Ogle, D.G., L. St. John, M. Stannard, and L. Holzworth 2010. Grass, Grass-like, Forb, Legume and Woody species for the Intermountain West. USDA-NRCS. ID-TN24. Boise, ID Qi, L.L., Wang, S.L., Chen, P.D., Liu, D.J., Friebe, B. and Gill, B.S. 1997. Molecular cytogenetic analysis of Leymus racemosus chromosomes added to wheat. Theor Appl Genet.95:1084-1091. Stevens, R. and S. Monsen. 2004. Guidelines for Restoration and Rehabilitation of Principal Plant Communities. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-136. P. 309.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Cold Stratification Required	No
Hedge Tolerance	None
Hedge Tolerance	None
Frost Free Days, Minimum	120
Frost Free Days, Minimum	120
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Drought Tolerance	High
Drought Tolerance	High
Cold Stratification Required	No
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-33
CaCO3 Tolerance	High
CaCO3 Tolerance	High
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Moisture Use	Medium
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-33
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Shade Tolerance	Intolerant
Salinity Tolerance	Low
Salinity Tolerance	Low
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	16
Precipitation, Minimum	10
Precipitation, Minimum	10
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Planting Density per Acre, Minim	3000
Planting Density per Acre, Minim	3000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim	11000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim	11000
pH, Minimum	6.0
pH, Minimum	6.0
pH, Maximum	9.0
pH, Maximum	9.0
Moisture Use	Medium

Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
Toxicity	None
Toxicity	None
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Fall Conspicuous	No
Foliage Porosity Winter	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Porosity Summer	Dense
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Color	Green
Flower Conspicuous	No
Flower Conspicuous	No
Flower Color	Yellow
Flower Color	Yellow
Fire Resistant	No
Fire Resistant	No
Resprout Ability	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Coppice Potential	No
Coppice Potential	No
C:N Ratio	High
C:N Ratio	High
Bloat	None
Bloat	None
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Rapid
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Rapid
Active Growth Period	Spring and Summer
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Resprout Ability	No
Nitrogen Fixation	None
Nitrogen Fixation	None
Low Growing Grass	No
Low Growing Grass	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Lifespan	Moderate
Leaf Retention	No
Leaf Retention	No
Known Allelopath	No
Known Allelopath	No
Height, Mature (feet)	3.0
Height, Mature (feet)	3.0
Foliage Texture	Coarse
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Rapid
Growth Rate	Rapid

Reproduction

Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	55000
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Seed per Pound	55000
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	High
Seedling Vigor	High
Small Grain	No
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid
Vegetative Spread Rate	Rapid
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Bloom Period	Late Spring
Bloom Period	Late Spring
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	High
Fruit/Seed Abundance	High
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Spring
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Summer
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No

Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse Animal	Low
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Human	No
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential	Low
Protein Potential	Low
Pulpwood Product	No
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No
Veneer Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	Low
Nursery Stock Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Lumber Product	No
Lumber Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No