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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Agrostis (hyemalis)

Joel L. Douglas
USDA NRCS - Coffeeville/Jamie L. Whitten Plant Materials Center
2533 County Road 65
Coffeeville, Mississippi 38922-2652
(601) 675-2588
(601) 675-2369 (fax)
jdouglas@ms.nrcs.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mspmc
Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Scientific Name: Agrostis hyemalis (Walt.) B.S.P.
Common Name: Winter bentgrass, Ticklegrass
Species Code: AGHY
General Distribution: The species appears to be distributed throughout the Eastern half of the US and the Great Plains. This grass prefers fairly wet soils.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Collection: Collected in Natchez Trace Parkway (actual collection location was not noted - designated collection area was the lower section of the Natchez Trace Parkway, from around Jackson, Mississippi to the terminus in Natchez, Mississippi) by B.B. Billingsley, Jr. in 1990.
Propagule Processing: Seed Processing: Direct combined seeds and cleaned using an air screen cleaner.
Seeds/Kg: 18,700,000.
Germination: In 1992=48% and in 1993=44%.
Purity: In 1992=97% and in 1993=98%.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seed Treatments: None. A. stolonifera and A. tenuis require stratification (Young and Young, 1986), but this species germinated without this treatment. Seeds probably require light for germination; however, no testing was done to determine this.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Propagation Environment: Field grown.

Seed Propagation Method: Broadcasting in summer on the surface of a mowed field.
Establishment Phase: Sowing Date: August to September.

Emergence and Date: Seeds germinate in the fall.

Sowing/Planting Technique: Seeds broadcast on the soil surface. Planting rate used was approximately 0.84 kilograms PLS per hectare (0.75 pound PLS per acre).
Active Growth Phase: Rapid Growth Phase: Plants begin to elongate to form flowering stalks in early spring.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Harvest Date: Mid-May. Seed heads will naturally break off of the plant when dry and seeds will dehisce as the stalks tumble in the wind.

Total Time to Harvest: 9 months.
Length of Storage: <b>Storage Duration: </b> 3-5 years.
Other Comments: Estimated seed production was 112 kg perhectare (100 lb. per acre). Seeds produced during the two production years were in excess of that needed for planting.
References: Young, J.A. and Young, C.G. 1986. Collecting, processing and germinating seeds of wildland plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 236 p.

Citation:

Grabowski, Janet M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Agrostis hyemalis (Walt.) B.S.P. plants USDA NRCS - Coffeeville/Jamie L. Whitten Plant Materials Center Coffeeville, Mississippi. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/01/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.