Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], May 01, 1953, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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May 1, 1953
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Crested Wheatgrass has proved its ability to produce valuable
forage under the severest conditions of northern Great Plains.
Tests Indicate Comparative Merits
Of These Important Range Grasses
By FRANCIS W. KIRSCHTEN
C RESTED WHEATGRASS has definitely proved
that can be counted upon to produce valuable J
itself as a grass
forage under the
severest conditions of the northern Great Plains.
But crested wheatgrass is only one of a large family of wheat
grasses (agropyron). There are probably about 150 species distrib
uted throughout the temperate regions of the world. At least 30 are
in North America, ranging from agropyron repens, commonly
known as quackgrass, to western wheatgrass or our own famous
blue joint.
Now another wheatgrass, intermediate, has been introduced in
Montana and other western states, with some indications that it
may be even superior in many respects to crested wheatgrass. Only
recently have any tests been made in comparison of the two grasses.
This article is a report of the apparent results so far of those tests.
Both crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass were in
troduced in comparatively recent times from Russia. Crested wheat
grass was first introduced by the federal government in 1898 from
an experiment station in Russian Turkistan. Intermediate wheat
grass was introduced by the department of agriculture from the
Soviet Union.
Crested Wheatgrass
Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) is a hardy perennial
bunchgrass which produces many stem and basal leaves. The stems
are fine and grow in bunches two to three feet high. It is adapted
to the cooler, dryer areas of the wheatgrass range. It produces
better results than other types of wheatgrass in regions of less than
13 inches of rainfall.
High palatability, good quality, and good volume of forage com
bined with hardiness, drouth resistance, and adaptability to differ
ent soil types makes this grass a valuable forage plant. Hay of
good quality can be obtained but cutting just after the plant has
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Intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium) is a peren
niai sod-former. It is well adapted to varying soil types and climatic
changes but proves superior to the crested variety in regions of
over 13 inches of rainfall. However, it is less hardy and less drouth
resistant than thé crested varieties.
The plants begin growth in early spring and reach a height of
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Cattle on an 8-acre pasture of intermediate -wheatgrass on the
Clarence Hagen place in the Bitterroot valley. Cattle were
turned into the pasture on May 6 and removed Oct. 10. Picture
was taken Sept. 10, 1952. Tests conducted under the super
vision of the Forest and Conservation Experiment Station,
Montana State University, indicate that beef production of
192 to 251 pounds per acre can be obtained. (Peterson photo)
headed and before it has bloomed. After blooming the plants quickly
become stemmy and less palatable.
Intermediate Wheatgrass
three to four feet. The abundant leafy foliage is palatable to all
livestock and the growth is vigorous. Seed production is dependable
and hay of good quality is obtained if the plants are cut before they
bloom.
Montana Tested
and Range Experiment station with headquarters at Missoula. This
test is still in progress but partial results are obtainable. The test
was carried out in the Ruby Valley of (Please turn to page 26)
A comparison test was carried out by personnel of the U.S. Forest