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| ## plains bristlegrass {#plains-bristlegrass .Title-Header}           |
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| *Setaria vulpiseta* (Lam.) Roemer & J.A. Schultes                     |
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| Plant Symbol = SEVU2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.8020833333333335in"
height="1.854861111111111in"}

##### Alternate Names

*Setaria macrostachya*

##### 

##### Uses

*Livestock:* Plains bristlegrass makes up an appreciable part of the
forage on southwestern ranges. It provides moderate to high quality
forage for all types of grazing livestock.

Wildlife: Plains bristlegrass provides fair to good forage for wildlife.
It is a good seed producer, and its seeds can provide a source of food
for wildlife. This species shows promise as a plant for both wildlife
and range use.

##### 

##### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description

Plains bristlegrass is a native, warm season, perennial bunchgrass that
can grow up to three feet in height. *Setaria leucopila* (streambed
bristlegrass) and *Setaria texana* (Texas bristlegrass) are sometimes
included under the common name, 'plains bristlegrass', as well. It is
suspected that all three species, along with *S. scheelei,* may
hybridize.

It should be noted when ordering plains bristlegrass seed, that the seed
may belong to any of the three species formerly included under the
common name, as much of the seed industry still uses the common name
plains bristlegrass to include *Setaria macrostachya, S. leucopila,* and
*S. texana*. There are notable morphological differences between the
three species, which may affect the suitability of the plants for a
specific site or project.

##### Adaptation

Plains bristlegrass is native from South Texas to New Mexico, Colorado
and Arizona, and down into central Mexico. Plains bristlegrass is found
on open dry ground, in dry woods, and on well drained soils along
gullies, stream courses, and other areas occasionally with abundant
moisture. It can often be found on clay to clay loam soils as an early
successional plant on disturbed prairie sites along the mid to lower
Texas Gulf Coast.

**Known Distribution**

Please consult the PLANTS database for the current distribution of this
species.

##### 

##### Establishment

Establishment of plains bristlegrass is most easily done from seed. A
1998 germination study with ninety-six accessions of plains bristlegrass
seed obtained germination as high as 70 % at temperatures between 50-85º
F. However, germination with this species tends to be inconsistent,
often due to poor seed fill. Viable seeds do tend to have a long shelf
life, however, as we have been able to germinate plains bristlegrass
seed that was more than 25 years old.

For South Texas we recommend seeding plains bristlegrass in the fall, if
there will not be a lot of competition from cool season weeds. However,
you can seed in late winter or early spring, but be sure to allow new
seedlings time to establish a good root system before the summer heat
arrives. Plains bristlegrass averages 1,300,000 seeds per pound and can
produce as much as 214 pounds of seed per acre.

Seeds should be planted on a clean, weed-free seedbed. Seeds may be
planted to a ½" depth at a rate of one pound of pure live seed per acre,
using a native grass drill. They can also be broadcast at a rate of one
and a quarter pounds of pure live seeds per acre, and covered to a
maximum depth of ½". Seeding rates should be adjusted proportionally
when used as part of a seeding mix.

##### Management

Plains bristlegrass can be grown irrigated or dryland. It is drought
hardy. We have not had any insect or disease problems with this grass.
Fertilize according to current soil test results, once plants are
established.

It is recommended that plains bristlegrass be given a year to establish
a good root system before grazing. Once established, the grass can be
grazed on a continual or rotational basis. For continual grazing, the
recommended stubble height is a six inch minimum. For rotational
grazing, a forage height between four to ten inches is recommended.
Allow at least a month and a half between rotations.

##### Pests and Potential Problems

For seed production, producers may wish to irrigate. Plains bristlegrass
tends to have poor seed production under droughty conditions. Seed size
and fill for plains bristlegrass appear to be strongly affected by site
conditions. Seed retention can also be a problem. Seed producers should
monitor the plants carefully for optimum harvest time, in order to
minimize loss to shatter. Plains bristlegrass can yield up to 214 pounds
of seed per acre for the smaller seeded *Setaria machrostachya*, and up
to 369 pounds per acre for the larger seeded *S. leucopila.*

For additional assistance regarding the production and establishment of
plains bristlegrass, please contact the Plant Material Center at (361)
595-1313.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator: 

*John Lloyd-Reilley*, Manager

*Elizabeth Kadin*, Research Assistant

*Shelly D. Maher*, Research Assistant

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center, Kingsville, Texas

##### 

##### Edited: 01Oct2002 SDM; 3nov05 jsp; 060817 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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