Western Needlegrass
Scientific Name: Achnatherum occidentale (Thurb.) Barkworth
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| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | ACOC3 |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | ACOC3 |
Plant Guide
Uses
Prior to maturity, Western needlegrass is considered good forage for cattle, horses, sheep and deer. Western needlegrass also provides good protection from soil erosion.
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
General: Western needlegrass is an erect, native, perennial grass with blue-green foliage. Densely tufted; culms 25-45 cm tall; sheath glabrous to pubescent, blade commonly narrow, 1-2 mm. wide; panicles 10-20 cm. long; glumes 10-15 mm long; lemma 6-8 mm. long, uniformly appressed-hairy; awn twice bent, densely hairy on all three segments.
Distribution
Western needlegrass usually is found in the Plains, rocky hills and open woods in Wyoming, Washington, Arizona and California. For more information on this species current distribution, please consult the PLANTS Web site. © 2002 Steve Matson @ CalPhotos
Adaptation
Western Needlegrass has shown a preference for loam to clay loam soils. It can persist on moderately deep road cut slopes. It is best grown for seed on well to moderately well-drained, moist, medium textured soils. It does not tolerate poor drainage or prolonged flooding.
Establishment
Western Needlegrass seed germinates with autumn rains and early growth is satisfactory as long as soil moisture and temperature is suitable. Minimum rainfall requirements vary from 10-12 inches depending on soil type, elevation and aspect.
Management
Needlegrasses should be grazed only moderately until the flowers begin to head and should then be protected from grazing until their main growing season has ended, If thus managed, under normal weather conditions and in the absence of fire, they develop enough seed to regain their old-time abundance, Such management also enables the needlegrasses to store enough plant food in their crowns and roots for vigorous early growth the next fall, Needlegrasses should always be regulated enough to leave a stubble averaging at least four inches in height, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Western Needlegrass., This allows the plants to continue to make healthy root and top growth during the current growing season, and to produce new foliage early in the next growing season,
Pests and Potential Problems
Needlegrass populations have been known to be damaged by rodents, but less so than most other perennial species.
Seeds and Plant Production
Plant Production
Plant Production
Flowering occurs in the late spring typically April to May. Adequate moisture will promote good seed set, but even under adverse conditions of low moisture, seed will be produced in most years. Seed is ripe 6 to 9 weeks after flowering. There are 311,000 seeds per pound. The planting rate for most vegetative practices is 5 pounds pure live seed per acre drilled and 7 pounds pure live seed per acre broadcast. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) ‘LK621e’ Cultivar- LK621e was collected from a native stand five miles southwest of Canby, California at an elevation of 4600 feet above sea level. Employees of the NRCS originally obtained the seed in 1997. It was evaluated in a common garden at Lockeford Plant Materials Center against 16 other Achnatherum populations assembled from California.