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| ## meadow brome {#meadow-brome .Title-Header}                         |
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| *Bromus biebersteinii* Roemer & J.A. Schultes                         |
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| Plant Symbol = BRBI2                                                  |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Montana State Office,
Aberdeen Plant Materials Center; USDA ARS Forage & Range Laboratory*

##### Alternate Names

##### *Bromus erectus, Bromus riparius*

##### 

##### Uses

*Grazing/Hayland*: The primary use of meadow brome is for forage
production. It is used for pasture, hay and haylage. It is highly
palatable to all classes of livestock and wildlife. Meadow brome is one
of the best forage grasses for use in the Northwestern states under
intensive rotational grazing systems.

*Erosion control*: Because of its dense network of roots, meadow brome
provides good erosion control on those soils to which it is adapted.
Rhizomes of meadow brome are much shorter than those of smooth brome.
Because of this, smooth brome is commonly a better choice for erosion
control plantings.

*Wildlife*: Meadow brome is used in grass-legume mixes for nesting,
broad rearing, escape and winter cover in upland wildlife and
conservation plantings. It is excellent forage for big game animals and
waterfowl, particularly geese.

##### Status

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state
noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Meadow brome is native to southwestern Asia near
Turkey. It is a long-lived, rapid developing, leafy, introduced, cool
season grass that spreads by short rhizomes. The numerous long,
light-green leaves are dominantly basal, lax, and mildly pubescent. The
numerous erect stems appear earlier in the growing season than smooth
brome. The awned florets are produced in large, terminal panicles. The
presence of awns, hairy leaves and stems, and lack of aggressive
rhizomes can distinguish meadow brome from smooth brome. When grown
under irrigation, it can reach 2-6 feet in height. It is very productive
in close spaced, one-foot rows. Meadow brome is not invasive. Meadow
brome has 93,000 seeds per pound.

##### Adaptation

Meadow brome can be grown under dryland conditions in 14+ inch annual
precipitation regions of the foothills, mountains and irrigated areas
throughout the West. Areas of greatest adaptability in the West are the
sagebrush-grass, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen and Douglas fir
communities. Meadow brome is one of the earliest species to initiate
growth in the spring and makes tremendous growth during cool conditions.
Due to deep roots and tiller base, it is capable of strong summer growth
and regrowth following grazing or haying. It makes rapid recovery
following mowing or grazing even during the hot periods of the year.

Unlike meadow brome, smooth brome regrowth initiates from its crown and
thus never achieves rapid recovery or regrowth following grazing or
haying. Smooth brome does not grow well under hot summer temperatures.

Rhizomes of meadow brome are much shorter than smooth brome resulting in
fewer problems with stands becoming sodbound, which is common in smooth
brome.

Meadow brome is very winter hardy. It produces well in areas with spring
frost such as high mountain valleys. In areas with significant spring
frost and little snow cover, meadow brome is a much better species
selection than orchardgrass.

Meadow brome performs well on soil textures ranging from shallow to
deep, coarse gravely to medium textured, well to moderately well
drained, and moderately acidic to weakly saline to alkali. It performs
best on fertile, moderately deep to deep, well-drained soils. It does
not grow well in saline soils and wet areas with high water tables. It
is also sensitive to flooding and commonly dies if inundated for more
than 10 days. It has the ability to establish and persist in areas that
receive as little as 14 inches of annual precipitation, but performs
best with 16 inches or more rainfall or irrigation. It prefers full sun,
but will tolerate semi-shady areas or areas with reduced light.

In an Alberta, Canada yield trial meadow brome had impressive
pasture-hay yield performance:

[Species Cultivar Yield (lbs/ac.)]{.underline}

Meadow brome Regar 10810 (5.4 ton)

Fleet 10684 (5.3 ton)

Paddock 10442 (5.2 ton)

Smooth brome Manchar 8665 (4.3 ton)

Orchardgrass \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- 8709 (4.4 ton)

Meadow foxtail Garrison 9177 (4.6 ton)

\* Fertilized after each cutting for an annual average of 220 lb/ac N
and 55 lb/ac P

The forage yields of the meadow brome releases in this study are not
significantly different. These yields may be an indicator of production
under irrigated conditions. Average yields under dryland conditions are
estimated to be about 50 percent of those listed above.

##### Establishment

A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Dry land and erosion
control seedings should be made in the late fall or very early spring
when soil moisture is not limited. Irrigated seedings should be made in
early to mid spring. On dryland, do not seed later than May 15th or a
failure may occur because of drought and hot summer conditions before
the grass is well established. A deep furrow or double disc drill with
press wheels may be used. Meadow brome does not flow uniformly through a
drill unless it is diluted with rice hulls or other dilutent. For
dryland and irrigated land a seeding rate of 10 pounds Pure Live Seed
(PLS) per acre is recommended (20 seeds per square foot). If broadcast
or planted for critical area treatment, double the seeding rate to 20
pounds PLS per acre or 40 seeds PLS per square foot. Meadow brome is
very compatible with legumes such as alfalfa, cicer milkvetch, birdsfoot
trefoil, sainfoin, and clover species. When planting with legumes,
alternate row planting is recommended due to differences in seedling
vigor. Use 6 to 8 pounds PLS of meadow brome seed per acre when planting
in alternate rows with a legume. Adjustments in seeding rate should be
made when seeding in mixtures. Seeding depth should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

When seeding for seed increase, seed should be treated with a fungicide
(most seed company\'s can treat seed) to reduce potential head smut
problems common in bromes. Irrigated seed production plantings should be
in at least 24-inch rows and preferably 36-inch rows. Seed at 4.5 to 5
pounds per acre. Dryland seed yields are commonly 150 to 200 pounds Pure
Live Seed per acre and irrigated seed yields are commonly 450 to 600
pounds Pure Live Seed per acre. Seed matures fairly evenly and is ready
for harvest in mid-July to early August. The preferred method of harvest
is to windrow crop in the firm dough stage and then combine in about 7
days once seed has matured in windrow. Direct combining is also
acceptable, but the seed crop must be monitored closely and harvested
when seed is mature and before seed shatter occurs. The seed should be
dried to 12 percent moisture in bins and 15 percent moisture in sacks
before storing.

'Regar' meadow brome seed production fields are only productive for
about two to three seed crops and seed production beyond 2 to three
years are normally not economical. Proper row culture (tillage) and
ripping may help to extend the stands productive life. 'Fleet',
'Paddock', 'Montana', and 'MacBeth' releases were selected for a longer
seed production life and higher seed production the third production
year compared to 'Regar'.

##### Management

Under dryland conditions the new planting should not be grazed until
late summer or fall of the second growing season. The plants may be
severely damaged or pulled out by overgrazing especially in the seedling
year due to poorly rooted seedlings. Under irrigated conditions the new
planting should not be grazed until late summer or fall of the first
growing season. Meadow brome establishes roots very slowly and plants
may be severely damaged by grazing too soon. Harvesting for hay during
the establishment year will be most beneficial to eliminate grazing
damage.

Do not graze in the spring until forage is 8 to 12 inches high and
remove animals from pasture when 3 to 4 inch stubble height remains. A 3
to 4 week rest period between grazing is recommended. Use no more than
60% of the annual growth during the winter season or 50% during the
growing season. This plant responds well to rotation-deferred grazing
systems. To maintain long-lived stands, the grass should be allowed to
periodically mature and produce seed for continuation of the stand.

Meadow brome responds very well to good fertility management. One
strategy to even out the forage production is to fertilize the stand
after the first and second cutting or grazing periods to boost late
spring and summer production. Apply fertilizer based on soil tests.
Fertilizer nutrient rates need to be balanced rates of nitrogen and
phosphorus to maintain optimum stands of grasses and legumes. Nitrogen
will favor the grass while phosphorus will favor the legume.

Forage production can be restored and stands may benefit from ripping if
sodbound conditions occur. Care should be taken to avoid excessive
tillage because stands may be damaged.

##### Pests and Potential Problems

Silvertop and head smut are the most common problems in brome grass seed
production. Meadow brome seed should be treated with a labeled fungicide
if planting is intended for seed production to avoid head smut problems.

Seed shatter is also a common seed production problem that can be
avoided by windrowing the field, curing seed in the swath for 5-7 days,
and then combining the seed.

Although hybridization with smooth brome can be obtained under
controlled greenhouse crosses, hybrids appear not to occur under field
conditions due to an earlier (6-10 days) flowering period for meadow
brome.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials

Foundation and Registered seed is available through the appropriate
state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow
certified seed.

**'Fleet'** meadow brome was developed by the Agriculture Canada
Research Station, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and it was released in 1987.
Fleet was formed as a synthetic of plants from Eurasian sources
including Regar. Fleet is similar to Regar in having a restricted
creeping root habit and abundant basal leaves. Fleet also has varying
degrees of pubescence similar to Regar. Regrowth following clipping or
grazing and fall greenness are also similar to Regar. Forage yields are
also similar to Regar, but Fleet may produce higher seed yields

**'MacBeth PVP' (pending)** meadow brome was developed at Montana State
University and released as a public cultivar under PVP, Title V option
in 2001. MacBeth has similar forage yields to Regar, Fleet and Paddock,
with a slight yield advantage in Montana dryland trials. A major
advantage for MacBeth is its excellent seed yield potential. At three
test locations, MacBeth averaged 135 percent higher seed yields than
Regar in the third year of production.

**'Montana PVP' (pending)** meadow brome was developed at Montana State
University and licensed exclusively to a private seed company. It is a
protected cultivar under PVP, Title V option and was released in 2001.
Montana has similar forage yields to Regar, Fleet and Paddock. The major
attribute for Montana is its improved seed yield potential over Regar
and Paddock. At three test locations, Montana averaged 35 percent high
seed yields than Paddock and 167 percent higher seed yields than Regar
in the third year of production.

**'Paddock'** meadow brome was selected by the Agriculture Canada
Research Station, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and released in 1987.
It was developed from and introduction from Krasnodar, USSR in 1969.
Paddock has a similar habit of growth to Regar and Fleet. Leaves are
slightly wider than Regar and forage yields are similar to Fleet and
Regar. Paddock seed yields are greater than Regar seed yields.

**'Regar'** meadow brome was selected from a collection made near Zek,
in Kars Province in Turkey in 1949 and made available to the Aberdeen
Plant Materials Center in 1957 by the USDA Regional Plant Introduction
Station. It was released in 1966 by the Aberdeen, Idaho Plant Materials
Center and the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. Regar seed
germinates readily, seedling vigor is good and seedlings establish
rapidly. Leaves are numerous, dominantly basal, mildly pubescent, and
light green. Seed stalks are erect and extend above the leaf mass in an
open panicle. Regar heads and matures 7 to 10 days earlier than smooth
brome. Regar greens up early in the spring and remains green late into
the fall.

##### Prepared By: 

*Dan Ogle*, USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

*Loren St. John*, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho

*Larry K. Holzworth*, USDA NRCS Montana State Office, Bozeman, Montana

*Dr. Kevin B. Jensen*, USDA ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory,
Utah State University, Logan, Utah

##### Species Coordinator: 

*Dan Ogle*, USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

Edited: 16aug02 lsj; 30sept02 lkh; 24jan03 kbj; 3feb03 dgo; 12feb03jsp;
25may06jsp

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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