Tall Oatgrass
Scientific Name: Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl & C. Presl
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | AREL3 |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | AREL3 |
Plant Guide
Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Tall Oatgrass.
Fact Sheet
Uses
Erosion control: Tall oatgrass is a useful conservation grass for cover and forage on surface mined lands and marginal pastureland. Livestock: Tall oatgrass can be used for livestock forage beginning in its second growing season; however, it is not recommended as a major component of forage seedings as other grasses are superior for this purpose.
Status
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Description
Arrhenatherum elatius, tall oatgrass, is a perennial, cool-season bunchgrass generally grown in Europe where it once was a component of the grasslands. Culms are erect, from 3 to 5 feet tall. Leaf blades, from 3/8 to 3/4 inches wide, are flat and rough to the touch. Seed heads are narrow panicles 6 to 10 inches long with long, twisted, angled, exposed awns.
Adaptation and Distribution
Distribution , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Tall Oatgrass.
Distribution
Introduced from Europe in the early 1800s, tall oatgrass has become naturalized in meadows, fields, open ground, waste places, and roadsides from Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, and California. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Joseph D. Ruffner USDA NRCS National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland
Establishment
Tall oatgrass is easily established, adapted to excessively drained low fertility soils, and compatible with legumes. A firm, weed-free seedbed is necessary for good stands. Spring seedings produce best results as the seedlings are not winter hardy. Seeding rates should range from 5 to 8 pounds pure live seed using hulled seed. Seed should be planted approximately 1/4 inch deep and cultipacked.
Management
Apply lime and fertilizer according to soil test results when seeding and for maintenance. Use of herbicides in the establishment year to control broadleaf weeds will improve success of the planting. Mow or graze for control in subsequent years.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| CaCO3 Tolerance | High |
|---|---|
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 90 |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 145 |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Fertility Requirement | Low |
| Fertility Requirement | Low |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | -43 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | -38 |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Intermediate |
| Salinity Tolerance | Medium |
| Salinity Tolerance | Medium |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 14 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 14 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 32 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 32 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 50 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 45 |
| pH, Minimum | 5.3 |
| pH, Minimum | 5.0 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.3 |
| pH, Maximum | 7.0 |
| Moisture Use | Medium |
| Moisture Use | Medium |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
Morphology/Physiology
| Active Growth Period | Spring |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | None |
| Toxicity | None |
| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| Bloat | None |
| Bloat | None |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
| Active Growth Period | Spring |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Foliage Texture | Coarse |
| 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) | 4.0 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 4.0 |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Foliage Texture | Medium |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Growth Form | Bunch |
| Growth Form | Bunch |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
Reproduction
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
|---|---|
| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | No |
| Propagated by Sod | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Seed per Pound | 189120 |
| Seed per Pound | 189120 |
| Seed Spread Rate | Moderate |
| Seed Spread Rate | Moderate |
| Seedling Vigor | High |
| Seedling Vigor | High |
| Small Grain | No |
| Small Grain | No |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | None |
| Vegetative Spread Rate | None |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
| Bloom Period | Early Summer |
| Bloom Period | Early Summer |
| Commercial Availability | No Known Source |
| Commercial Availability | No Known Source |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Spring |
| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Spring |
| Fruit/Seed Period End | Summer |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | Yes |
| 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 Period End | Summer |
Suitability/Use
| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
|---|---|
| Palatable Graze Animal | High |
| Palatable Graze Animal | High |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Post Product | No |
| Post Product | No |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Veneer Product | No |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Medium |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
