Technical Notes: Secar bluebunch wheatgrass as a competitor to medusahead

Abstract

A search continues for native perennial range grasses which will compete successfully with introducted annual grasses. Secar blue-bunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) is a recently released cultivar selected for seedling vigor. Medusahead (Taeniatherum asperum) seeds germinated in about one third the time, were less inhibited by cold temperatures typical of range conditions, and seedlings grew more than twice as fast as Secar in a 30-day trial. Indications are that even this new cultivar will not compete successfully with vigorous medusahead seedlings without initial weed control.