Pascopyrum (smithii)

Mark E. Majerus USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center 99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189 Bridger, Montana 59014-9718 (406) 662-3579 (406) 662-3428 (fax) mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass
Scientific Name:	Pascopyrum smithii
Common Name:	Western wheatgrass
Species Code:	PASM
Ecotype:	See
General Distribution:	Grassland and sagebrush desert, often heavy moist soil, into foothills Ontario to Alberta and British Columbia; New York; Michigan to Washington, south to Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, and northeastern California.
Propagation Goal:	seeds
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Harvest yields vary due to weather and age of stand. Average annual production is 31 kg/ha (29 lbs/ac).
Propagule Collection:	Wildland collection occurs late July when caryopsis is gray-brown, at hard dough stage, and not yet shattering (natural dispersal) from the erect spike; easily hand-harvested. One collection hour/person will yield and average 37 grams (1.3 oz) clean seed (ranges 10 to 64 grams and varies by year, stand density, and collector experience).
Propagule Processing:	Seed Processing: Seed is spread out on a tarp in a dry, sheltered environment and turned daily for approximately 3-5 days, until no moisture or warmth is detected. After drying, material is processed with a Wintersteiger plot combine at concave 1/4, speed 1000 rpm, and medium wind. Seed is threshed with a hammermill through an 8/64" round hole sized screen, and air-screen processed on a Clipper M2B or Eclipse cleaner over a 12/64" round hold screen. Due to medium-sized seed, absence of awns, fluff, or other seed debris, and fair seed flow, this species is realtively easy to clean. Larger seed lots are processed most efficiently with mechanized cleaning equipmentand smaller seed lots ususlly require more hand labor. Seeds/Kg: 410,800. Purity: 100%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Treatmenst: None required.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation Environment: Seedbed is firm and free of weeds with good field moisture to 4" depth. Seed Propagation Method: Direct seeding.
Establishment Phase:	Sowing Date: Spring or dormant fall. Sowing/Planting Technique: 25-30 pure live seed/ft. (0.3 m) row, irrigated 91 cm (36 in) row spacing, seeded with 2-row double-disk planter with depth bands, optimum seeding depth 0.6 cm (0.25 in). Establishment Phase: Soil surface is kept moist throughout the 14 day germination and emergence period (also helps prevent soil crusting); lower rates of Buctrylr or bromoxynil are applied at 3-5 leaf stage to control broadleaf weeds. Fertilizer application is not recommended the first year, as it generally stimulates weed growth and competition.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 growing seasons.
Active Growth Phase:	Rapid Growth Phase: Spring to fall; broadleaf weed control with herbicides must occur prior to boot stage; soil moisture is critical during boot stage, milk stage of seed development, and post harvest to pre-freezeup - no irrigation is applied during flowering (pollination); fertilizer is broadcast at 100 lbs actual N/40 lbs actual P/acre in mid-September.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	2 to 3 growing seasons.
Hardening Phase:	N/A.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Cultivated harvest occurs mid August, with a mean harvest date of August 18 at the Bridger Plant Materials Center. A John Deer swather is used to cut stems into windrows for direct combining, or, to minimize seed loss, a temporary "diaper" - a heavy peice of plastic or canvas clipped under belt draper - is attached for direct catchment. Seed Storage: Seed is placed in plastic seed bags and stored in a cool, dry environment. Seed Dormancy: Classified as physiological dormancy.
Length of Storage:	<b>Storage Duration:</b> 5 to 7 years.
Other Comments:	Ecotype: 1 Yellowstone National Park accession periodically collected and produced from 1989 to 1991. Ecological zone in bluebunch wheatgrass/Sandberg's bluegrass. Elevation is 1,615 m (5,300 ft).
References:	Manual of the Grasses of the United States, A.S. Hitchcock, Second Edition, Two Volumes, Dover Publications, Inc., 1970. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, C.L. Hitchcock and A. Conquist, Universtty of Washington Press, 1973. Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook, Montana State University, Extension Service Bulletin EB 69, June 1990. Yellowstone Vegetation - Consequences of Environment and History in a Natural Setting, Don G. Despain, Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1990. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, C.C. Baskin and J.M. Baskin, Academic Press, 2001.

Citation:

Winslow, Susan R.. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Pascopyrum smithii seeds USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.