Publication Date
1989
Description
Since it was first successfully introduced into North America from Eurasia in 1906 (Dillman 1946), crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner, A. desertorum (Fish. ex Link) Schultes, and A.fragile (Roth) Candargy] has had more impact on revegetation of western rangelands in North America than any other grass. Much of the early crested wheatgrass seedings were made as monocultures ; however, the multiple demands now made on rangelands dictate that other grass, shrub, and forb species be included in the seeding mix. The advantages of grass-legume mixtures in terms of improved forage quality and productivity are well documented (Trenbath, 1974). Significant amounts of nitrogen are transferred from the legume to the grass component in the mixture (Brophy et al. 1984), and this can have significant economic impact as the availability of fossil fuels become more critical. Leyshorn et al. (1981) studied mixtures of grass and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. subsp x varia) in semiarid environments of Saskatchewan, Canada. Alfalfa plus crested wheatgrass and alfalfa plus Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski] produced significantly more forage than either crested wheatgrass or Russian wildrye alone. The advantages of alfalfa in crested wheatgrass stands also were demonstrated by Rogler and Lorenz (1969). Alfalfa-crested wheatgrass mixtures were more productive than pure stands of crested wheatgrass, due not only to the productivity of the additional alfalfa but the increased vigor of the grass component as well.
Citation
Asay, K H. and Johnson, D A., "Genetic Variances in Crested Wheatgrass - Alfalfa Mixtures" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/30
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Genetic Variances in Crested Wheatgrass - Alfalfa Mixtures
Since it was first successfully introduced into North America from Eurasia in 1906 (Dillman 1946), crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner, A. desertorum (Fish. ex Link) Schultes, and A.fragile (Roth) Candargy] has had more impact on revegetation of western rangelands in North America than any other grass. Much of the early crested wheatgrass seedings were made as monocultures ; however, the multiple demands now made on rangelands dictate that other grass, shrub, and forb species be included in the seeding mix. The advantages of grass-legume mixtures in terms of improved forage quality and productivity are well documented (Trenbath, 1974). Significant amounts of nitrogen are transferred from the legume to the grass component in the mixture (Brophy et al. 1984), and this can have significant economic impact as the availability of fossil fuels become more critical. Leyshorn et al. (1981) studied mixtures of grass and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. subsp x varia) in semiarid environments of Saskatchewan, Canada. Alfalfa plus crested wheatgrass and alfalfa plus Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski] produced significantly more forage than either crested wheatgrass or Russian wildrye alone. The advantages of alfalfa in crested wheatgrass stands also were demonstrated by Rogler and Lorenz (1969). Alfalfa-crested wheatgrass mixtures were more productive than pure stands of crested wheatgrass, due not only to the productivity of the additional alfalfa but the increased vigor of the grass component as well.
