Pseudoroegneria (spicata)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass
Scientific Name:	Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Love inerme (Whitmar) (Scribn & J.G. Sm.) A. Love
Common Synonym:	Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. & J.G. Sm. inermis (Whitmar)
Common Name:	Beardless bluebunch wheatgrass
Species Code:	PSSPI
General Distribution:	Arid and semi-arid portions of the western US and Canada east to Montana and south to Texas, except California and Arizona, where mean annual precipitation ranges from 15-35 inches. In eastern Washington it is one of the dominant native grasses in meadow-steppe and Ponderosa pine ecosystems. It, along with Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis, constitute the major portion of the grass species of the Palouse Prairie. "Whitmar" was originally collected near Colton, WA and released in 1946.
Propagation Goal:	seeds
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	0
Propagule Processing:	After threshing, a hammermill or debearder may be used to further thresh the seed and break up stems to allow easier feeding through cleaning equipment. Seed is cleaned with air screen equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	For dryland seedings which receive less than 16 inches mean annual precipitation, fall dormant seedings are preferred. Dryland plantings made in areas receiving 18 or more inches of annual precipitation should be sown in the spring. In areas receiving 16-18 inches of precipitation, either spring or fall seedings can be made. Irrigated seedings may be made at any time. Beardless bluebunch wheatgrass will germinate under a wide variety of soil temperatures (Young, Eckert & Evans. 1981).
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In April or early May, seed is sown in 36 inch wide rows at a rate of 30-40 seeds/linear foot. Seedings should be made in a firm, weed-free seedbed. A firm seed bed holds moisture near the surface of the soil and assures accurate seed placement. This can be accomplished by no-till seeding techniques or by conventional tillage followed by a roller or packer. Seed is sown as early in the spring as possible. Early seedings are more likely to be affected by soil crusting, which will prevent emergence of the seedlings. Later seedlings are less likely to be affected by soil crusting, but are more prone to failure if the soil dries out before establishment. Seed must be placed no more than « inch deep in the soil. Native grass seeds do not have enough endosperm reserves to emerge from depths greater than « inch. No fertilizer is applied during the establishment year. 145,000 seeds/lb. (USDA, NRCS. 2004). 95-150,000 seeds/lb. (Hassell, et al. 1996).
Establishment Phase:	If moisture is available in the seed zone, germination in the field will begin in 8-10 days and is usually complete in 14 days. Bromoxynil may be used for broadleaf weed control while the grass is in the seedling stage. Phenoxy herbicides should not be applied until the seedlings have begun to tiller. Cultivation should be used with caution on young seedlings. They are easily uprooted or covered with soil.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 growing season
Active Growth Phase:	Established seed increase plantings are cultivated and rogued to control weeds and off-type grasses. Phenoxy herbicides may be used before the plants reach the boot stage. 80 lbs/acre of nitrogen fertilizer is applied in the fall. Seed increase plantings will produce seed in the second season and continue to produce abundant seed for 4-5 more seasons.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seed ripens in mid to late July in the Pullman area. When the inflorescence begins to dry and the seed is in the soft to hard dough stage but before it shatters from the inflorescence, plants are cut with a swather and laid in windrows in the field. Windrows areallowed to dry in the field for 6-7 days, then threshed with a combine equipped with a grass pickup attachment on the header. Harvested seed is stored at ambient temperatures in boxes or woven bags until cleaned.
Other Comments:	Consult with a licensed pesticide professional about any possible pesticide usage. Before applying any pesticide, read and follow the directions on the label. No insect or disease problems have been noted. Clean seed retains high germination for at least ten years under cool, dry storage conditions. High heat and/or high humidity reduce seed storage life.
References:	Hassell, et al. 1996. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species. USDI National Park Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. Kelley, Clarence A. 1988. Basics of Establishing Grass Seedings for Conservation. In: 1988 Annual Tech. Report. USDA, NRCS, Pullman Plant Materials Center. Pullman, WA. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Love seeds USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. 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.