Beardless Wheatgrass

Beardless Wheatgrass (Agropyron inerme)

Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth, J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke

Beardless wheatgrass is an important bunchgrass of the intermountain region from western Montana to central Washington and south into Nevada and Utah. It differs from bluebunch wheatgrass in the absence of awns. It is not as common on native range as bluebunch wheatgrass.

Beardless wheatgrass is about three weeks later in spring growth than crested wheatgrass, and can be used three weeks later in the spring. It provides excellent quality and quantity of forage for cattle, sheep and horses during spring and summer.

Where other native, associated plants are present, and proper grazing use is practiced, this plant maintains good erosion control. This productive, drought-resistant grass must be grazed properly since it is a decreaser and will not tolerate heavy grazing, especially during the mid-part of its growth period.

Beardless wheatgrass makes good forage growth during the spring, very little in summer, but greens up with fall rains. It is more drought tolerant than crested wheatgrass and has greater root production.

Description

Beardless wheatgrass is a native, cool-season, drought-tolerant, perennial bunchgrass with an abundance of erect, basal leaves. It is closely related to bluebunch wheatgrass, but the seed head has a different appearance since it is awnless.

The leaves are fine, flat or rolled, narrow, pointed and from 5 to 12 inches long. Color varies from pale green to bluish. The stalks are erect, slender and from 1 to 3 feet tall. Flower heads are spikes which are more slender than the other wheatgrasses, 5 to 8 inches long. Spikelets are not pubescent, spaced 1/8 to 3/4 inch apart, erect and are awn-tipped or awnless. The spikelets are 1/2 to 1 inch long and four- to eight-flowered.

Adaptation

Beardless wheatgrass has the same general range and adaptation as bluebunch wheatgrass. It grows on a variety of well-drained soils with textures ranging from medium to coarse. Soil depths vary from very shallow to deep (6 inches to over 3 feet). It has excellent adaptation to granitic soils and is often the dominant grass on soils with high percentages of coarse fragments.

Beardless wheatgrass is found at elevations from 4,000 to 9,000 feet. It prefers open areas since it is not too shade tolerant and is found mostly on southern and western slopes or droughty ridgetops at higher elevations.

This grass is adapted to areas with average annual precipitation of 8 to 24 inches. It is considered to be more drought tolerant than crested wheatgrass. Once established, the plants are vigorous and stands can be maintained indefinitely.

Limitations

Seedling vigor is poor. Seedlings are slow to establish and it takes three years for the plants to reach maturity. This species is drought tolerant, but will not grow where excess moisture accumulates or in salty or alkaline soils.

The growing points occur several inches above the ground so this grass cannot stand close grazing.

Use for Hay

Although beardless wheatgrass is not normally seeded for hay production, it is of excellent forage value when included in a native grass mix cut for hay, or even a pure stand that may have been utilized for hay. Other grasses and legumes are noted for higher forage production when used for hay and the establishment period of two to three years is also a drawback for beardless wheatgrass.

Use for Pasture

Beardless wheatgrass produces excellent quality forage for cattle, sheep and horses during spring and summer. It also cures with high nutrient levels (protein) and is one of the better grasses for fall and winter use.

This grass will be damaged by heavy spring grazing. It should not be heavily spring-grazed when seed production is needed for reproduction. It responds well to repeated, moderate, fall grazing.

This species has not been seeded as extensively as crested wheatgrass because the relative seed cost is higher, and it takes two to three years to reach grazing readiness. It is most commonly seeded to small areas of range or go-back lands surrounded by rangelands where this species is a native.

Seed Production

The Whitmar variety will produce up to 300 pounds per acre in row planting. Seed shatters easily when mature, so the time of harvest is critical.

* The Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook (EB69) is no longer in print, but is available for viewing in
Montana County Extension Service and National Resource Conservation Service Offices.