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| ## crested wheatgrass {#crested-wheatgrass .Title-Header}             |
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| *Agropyron cristatum* (L.) Gaertn.                                    |
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| Plant Symbol = AGCR                                                   |
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# *Contributed By: USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office*

## Alternate Names

fairway wheatgrass, fairway crested wheatgrass

## Uses

*Grazing/rangeland/hayland*: Crested wheatgrass is a perennial,
introduced grass commonly seeded in the arid sections of the western
United States. Crested wheatgrass is commonly recommended for forage
production. It is palatable to all classes of livestock and wildlife. It
is a preferred feed for cattle, sheep, horses, and elk in spring and
also in the fall, if additional growth occurs. It is considered a
desirable feed for deer and antelope in spring and fall, if additional
growth occurs. It is not considered a desirable feed for cattle, sheep,
horses, deer, antelope, and elk in the summer. In spring, the protein
levels can be as high as 18 percent and decrease to about 4 percent as
it matures. Digestible

carbohydrates remain high throughout the active growth period. It is
commonly utilized for winter forage by cattle and horses, but protein
supplements are required to ensure good animal health. It is noted for
its ability to withstand very heavy grazing pressure (65-70 percent
utilization), once stands are established. Crested wheatgrass is a good
forage producer in the areas where best adapted. Crested wheatgrass is
generally not recommended above 12-14 inches of precipitation, because
better, alternative forage species are available. Crested wheatgrass
stands generally produce from 1.5 to 2 times more than native grass
stands, generally in the bluebunch wheatgrass (*Pseudoroegneria
spicata*) ecosystems. The best forage types, in order, are Siberian,
desert, and Fairway. ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.6993055555555556in"
height="3.6166666666666667in"}

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Crested wheatgrass is well adapted to
stabilization of disturbed soils. It competes well with other aggressive
introduced plants during the establishment period. Crested wheatgrass is
not compatible in mixes with native species, because it is very
competitive and will out-compete slower developing native species. Their
drought tolerance, fibrous root systems, and good seedling vigor make
these species ideal for reclamation in areas receiving 8 to 16 inches
annual precipitation. In areas above 14 inches annual precipitation,
'Roadcrest' and 'Ephraim' may exhibit their rhizomatous traits and make
excellent low maintenance lawns when broadcast seeded to establish thick
lawns. These grasses can be used in urban areas where irrigation water
is limited to provide ground cover, weed control and to stabilize ditch
banks, dikes, pipelines, power lines, and roadsides.

*Wildlife*: Birds and small rodents eat crested wheatgrass seeds. Deer,
antelope, and elk graze it, especially in spring and fall. Upland and
songbirds utilize stands for nesting. Where it is planted as a
monoculture, the resulting biodiversity is lower than that found in a
diverse plant community.

## Status

This is a species introduced from Asia. Please consult the PLANTS Web
site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's
current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator
values.

## Description

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). It is a long-lived, cool season,
drought tolerant, introduced, and winter hardy grass with an extensive
root system. Related species include the following: Desert wheatgrass
(*Agropyron desertorum*) and Siberian wheatgrass (*Agropyron fragile*).

Spike 2 to 7 cm long. The spikelets more widely spreading with the
glumes somewhat contoured, gradually tapering into awns 2 to 5 mm long.
Fairway or crested wheatgrass has short-broad spikes that taper at the
top, smaller seeds, grows shorter, and has finer leaves and stems than
desert wheatgrass. Desert wheatgrass has longer spikes than fairway, but
vary in spike shape from comb-like to oblong. Fairway and desert grow
from 1 to 3 feet tall with seed spikes 1.5 to 3 inches long. Spikelets
are flattened, closely overlapping, oriented at a slight angle on the
rachis. The lemmas are linear-lanceolate narrowing to a short awn.
Glumes are awl shaped and firm, and keeled. Culms are erect. Leaves are
flat, smooth below, slightly scabrous (coarse) above and vary in width
from 2 to 6 mm. Siberian is very similar to fairway and desert, but has
finer leaves and stems, narrower and awnless glumes and lemmas, and the
spikelets are more ascending, which gives the spike a narrow, oblong,
sub-cylindrical shape. Siberian is more droughts tolerant and retains
its greenness and palatability later into the summer than either desert
or fairway.

## Distribution

This species was introduced from Asia and is naturalized from the
Pacific coast to New York. For current distribution, please consult the
Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

Crested wheatgrass should be seeded with a drill at a depth of 1/2 inch
or less on medium to fine textured soils and 1 inch or less on coarse
textured soils. Single species seeding rates recommended for crested
wheatgrass and its close relatives are 5-7 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS)
per acre or 20 to 30 PLS per square foot. Single species seeding rates
recommended for Siberian wheatgrass is 6-8 pounds PLS per acre or 24-30
PLS per square foot. If used as a component of a mix, with alfalfa
(*Medicago* spp.), sainfoin (*Onobrychis viciifolia*), yellow
sweetclover (*Melilotus officinalis*), cicer milkvetch (*Astragalus*
*cicer*), or others adjust to percent of mix desired. For mined lands
and other harsh critical areas, the seeding rate should be increased to
10-12 pounds PLS per acre or 40 to 50 PLS per square foot. Mulching and
light irrigation on highly disturbed, droughty areas are beneficial for
stand establishment.

The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in very early spring
on heavy to medium textured soils and as dormant seeding in late fall on
medium to light textured soils. Late summer (August - mid September)
seedings are not recommended unless irrigation is available.

Crested and Siberian wheatgrasses establish quickly, with 'Hycrest' and
'Vavilov' noted for their seedling vigor. They should not be seeded with
native species, unless seeding rates are very low (\< 2 pounds per
acre). They may compliment native stands that are already partially
established. Under favorable conditions they are good weed barriers.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment, but
application of 2,4-D should not be made until plants have reached the
four to six leaf stages. Mow when weeds are beginning to bloom to reduce
weed seed development. Grasshoppers and other insects may also damage
new stands and use of pesticides may be required.

*Adaptation*: Crested wheatgrass is adapted for non-irrigated seedings,
where annual precipitation averages 8-16 inches or more (fairway should
average 10 inches or more), and where the frost-free period is generally
less than 140 days. Desert and hybrid cross are superior above 8 inches
annual precipitation in spring recovery and grazing readiness. On
droughty sites with 7-10 inches annual precipitation, Siberian
wheatgrass may be the best choice. It is known to surpass desert and
hybrid cross in rate of establishment, stand persistence, and total
forage yield on the more arid sites. Siberian has been seeded in areas
with as little as 5 inches of precipitation with some success.

Crested wheatgrass should generally be seeded below 7,000 feet
elevation. Fairway does well up to 9,000 feet elevation. Crested
wheatgrass does well on shallow to deep, moderately course to fine
textured, moderately well to well drained soils. Under saline
conditions, vigor and production are reduced. Fairway is not well
adapted to silty soils. Siberian types are well adapted to light-sandy,
droughty soils. All crested wheatgrasses are cold tolerant and can
withstand moderate periodic flooding, not exceeding 7-10 days in the
spring. They are very tolerant of fire. They will not tolerate long
periods of inundation-standing water, poorly drained soils, or excessive
irrigation.

## Management

Crested wheatgrass produces leaves in the spring about 10 days after
bluegrass species and about two weeks earlier than native wheatgrasses.
They make good spring growth, little summer growth and good fall growth
if moisture is available.

Crested wheatgrass has good palatability for livestock and some
wildlife. Livestock and wildlife will graze crested wheatgrass
throughout the spring growing season until it becomes too coarse, and
again in fall if re-growth occurs. Established stands can withstand very
heavy grazing.

New stands of crested wheatgrass should not be grazed until they are
firmly established and have started to produce seed heads. Six inches of
new growth should be attained in spring before grazing is allowed in
established stands. Three inches of stubble should remain at the end of
the grazing season to maintain the long-term health of the plant. In
addition, leaving three inches or more stubble will result in a 10 - 14
day earlier growth period or "green-up" in spring.

Crested wheatgrass is a low maintenance plant requiring little
additional treatment or care. However, spring/fall deferment or grazing
rotations are recommended to maintain plant health and to maximize
forage production potential.

Crested wheatgrass is competitive with weedy species, but can be crowded
out by some aggressive introduced weedy species and native woody
species.

Crested wheatgrass can be used for hay production and will make
nutritious feed, but is more suited to pasture use. Light infrequent
applications of nitrogen (25 pounds/acre) and light irrigation will
increase total biomass production and lengthen the growing period.
Re-growth of crested wheatgrass is slow.

*Environmental Concerns*: Crested wheatgrass is long-lived and spreads
primarily via seed. Spread of rhizomatous varieties is very slow in the
case of the 'Roadcrest' and 'Ephraim'. They are not considered \"weedy\"
or invasive species. Most seedings do not spread beyond original
plantings. They will cross with each other, but do not cross with native
species.

Crested wheatgrass resists cheatgrass competition better than most
native species, because it germinates earlier and grows more rapidly at
colder temperatures. This has an important competitive advantage, when
dealing with winter annual species, such as cheatgrass.

Full, properly managed stands of crested wheatgrass generally exclude
native grasses and forbs. When inter-seeded into native stands, crested
wheatgrass commonly co-exists with native grasses, forbs and shrubs.
Some native shrubs, such as big sagebrush and rabbitbrush, often invade
crested wheatgrass stands, especially if native seed sources are nearby.

Due to commonly being planted in monocultures (single species) stands in
the past, some feel crested wheatgrass is not ecologically appropriate.
It is important to consider the paragraph above and to plant multiple
species mixes to avoid this perception.

## Seed Production

Seed production of crested wheatgrasses has been very successful under
cultivated conditions. Row spacing of 24 to 30 inches when irrigated and
36 inches or greater under dryland conditions are recommended. Early
spring or late fall seedings are recommended under dryland conditions.
Early spring seedings are recommended under irrigated conditions. When
irrigated, spring seedings consistently yield more seed during the first
year of seed production. To obtain maximum seed production, fall
plantings are not recommended.

Control weeds during stand establishment and long term management of
stand by clipping, hand rouging or light rates of herbicide (2,4-D or
Bromoxynil according to label) after the five-leaf stage. Fertilizer is
generally not recommended during establishment. If soil nitrogen and
phosphorus are low, an application of 10-15 pounds per acre nitrogen and
20-30 pounds per acre phosphorus may be applied prior to planting.
Fertilize for full seed production following the establishment year in
early fall or use a split application in early fall and again in early
spring. Very early spring application of nitrogen may be beneficial on
sandy soils to promote vegetative growth. When irrigated, apply adequate
moisture for germination, establishment, and to bring soils to field
capacity. Following stand establishment, fertilize and irrigate soon
after seed harvest in fall to stimulate seed head primordia development.
Do not stress plants during re-growth and tillering in the fall, late
boot stage, and during pollination. Avoid irrigating during flowering.

Seed fields are productive for four to five years. Average production of
200 to 300 pounds per acre can be expected under dryland conditions in
14 inch plus rainfall areas. Average production of 500 to 600 pounds per
acre can be expected under irrigated conditions. The seed heads do not
readily shatter, but some shatter can be expected. Harvesting is best
completed by direct combining when the top of the seed head begins to
shatter or wind-rowing at hard dough stage and combining with pickup
attachment in about 5 to 7 days. Seed is generally harvested in mid July
to mid August.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

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

*Agropyron cristatum* is not as drought tolerant as desert or Siberian
wheatgrasses. They are adapted to the northwest, intermountain, and
Great Plains regions with at least 10 inches of annual precipitation.
They do well on shallow to deep, moderately coarse to fine textured,
moderately well to well drained and weakly acidic to moderately alkaline
(saline and sodic) soils. Under alkaline conditions, vigor and
production are reduced. The Fairway type was first recognized in 1950 as
being different than other crested types. Fairway is shorter, denser,
finer stemmed, and less productive than desert wheatgrass at lower
elevations and may exceed desert wheatgrass production at higher
elevations. Cultivars include the following: 'Douglas', \'Ephraim\',
\'Parkway\', 'Roadcrest', and \'Ruff\'.

\'Douglas\' was developed by ARS in Logan, Utah and released in 1994 in
cooperation with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and NRCS. The
breeding populations were derived from accessions originating in the
former USSR, Iran, and Turkey. One accession was characterized with very
broad leaves and was used as the female parent in all crosses. Douglas
has larger seed than other crested wheatgrasses and has excellent
seedling vigor. It produces less forage than other cultivars, but is
leafier and remains green longer into the growing season suggesting
improved forage preference and improved fire resistance. Douglas
requires 13-14 inches or more annual precipitation. It is not
recommended for turf applications, but may work very well in roadside
applications. Certified seed is available. ARS in Logan, Utah maintains
breeder and foundation seed.

The Forest Service Shrub Laboratory in Provo, Utah and Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources developed 'Ephraim' from an accession originating in
Turkey. It was released in 1983 by the developing agencies in
cooperation with NRCS and Agricultural Experiment Stations in Arizona,
Idaho, and Utah. It is weakly rhizomatous, with rhizomes being expressed
at higher precipitation zones above 14 inches. It is well adapted to
disturbed areas, roadsides, and mine spoils. It has been used
successfully as a low maintenance turf. It is not well adapted to silty
soils. It is a good seed producer. Certified seed is available. Aberdeen
PMC maintains breeder and foundation seed.

\'Parkway\' was developed by the Canada Department of Agriculture,
Research Station, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and released in 1969. It
is recommended for hay and pasture. It is a good seed producer and has
good lodging resistance. It is not recommended for turf applications.
Certified seed is available. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research
Station, Swift Current, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, maintains breeder and
foundation seed.

'Roadcrest' was developed by ARS in Logan, Utah and released in 1998. It
is a long-lived perennial, and is significantly more rhizomatous than
Ephraim, the only other somewhat rhizomatous crested wheatgrass
cultivar. Roadcrest is recommended for use along roadsides or similar
low-maintenance turf application areas in 10 inch and higher rainfall
areas. Certified seed is available. ARS in Logan, Utah maintains breeder
and foundation seed.

\'Ruff\' was developed by ARS, Lincoln, Nebraska and released in 1974 by
ARS and the Nebraska Agricultural Extension Service. It is recommended
for a short season, spring forage crop. It can be used as a low
maintenance turf on roadsides, parks, and playgrounds in low rainfall
areas of the central Great Plains. Common seed is available, but
certified seed is not available.

*Agropyron desertorum* is more drought tolerant than crested or fairway
wheatgrass. It is not as drought tolerant as the Siberian type. Desert
wheatgrass is adapted to the Northwest, Intermountain and Great Plains
regions with at least 8 inches ('Douglas' requires 13-14 inches) of
annual precipitation below 6500 feet elevation. It does well on shallow
to deep, moderately coarse to fine textured, moderately well to well
drained and weakly acidic to moderately alkaline soils. Under saline
conditions, vigor and production are reduced. It is considered slightly
more saline tolerant and more productive than fairway wheatgrass.

The following cultivars are desert wheatgrasses: \'Nordan\' and
\'Summit\'.

ARS at the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, North
Dakota, developed 'Nordan'. ARS and ND Agricultural Experiment Station
released Nordan in 1953. It is uniform, erect, with heavy seeds that are
awnless. The seed heads are dense and compressed. It has good seedling
vigor and seed quality and long-term forage yields are equal to the
newer varieties. It is very palatable in spring and fall, but less so in
summer. Certified seed is available. ARS at the Great Plains Research
Laboratory maintains breeder and foundation seed.

\'Summit\' was introduced from Western Siberian Experiment Station,
Omsk, and former USSR. Canada Department of Agriculture released it in
1953. It is considered very similar to \'Nordan\'. Certified seed is
available. The Canada Department of Agriculture, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, maintains breeder and foundation seed.

*Agropyron cristatum* × *Agropyron desertorum* is a hybrid cross, which
results in a plant with excellent seedling vigor. The following
cultivars are hybrid crosses and considered similar to desert
wheatgrass: 'Hycrest' and 'CD-II'.

ARS in Logan, Utah released 'CD-II' in 1996. CD-II is a selection of
'Hycrest' and was released to ensure the genetic purity of the cross. It
has increased growth characteristics under cold temperatures.
Characteristics and performance are the same as Hycrest. Certified seed
is available. ARS Logan, Utah maintains breeder and foundation seed.

ARS in Logan, Utah developed 'Hycrest' by crossing Fairway and desert
wheatgrasses. ARS, NRCS, and Utah Agricultural Experiment Station
released it in 1984. It is easier to establish than either of its
parents and is more productive during the establishment period than
either parent. Long-term productivity exceeds Fairway and it is equal to
the desert wheatgrass. The leaves and stems are coarser and it has more
stems than Fairway. Good stands have been established in the 8 inch or
greater precipitation zones. It is best adapted to 5,000 to 9,000 feet
elevation zones, but good stands are common to 2,500 feet. It does well
on shallow to deep, coarse to fine textured, moderately well to well
drained soils. Under slightly saline conditions, vigor and production
are reduced. It is not adapted to excessively saline areas. Certified
seed is available. ARS, Logan, Utah, maintains breeder and foundation
seed.

*Agropyron fragile* is similar to desert wheatgrass, but is considered
more drought tolerant than fairway, desert, and hybrid cross types.
'P27' and 'Vavilov' are Siberian wheatgrass.

\'P27\' was developed by the Aberdeen and Pullman Plant Materials
Centers from collections originating from Kazakhstan and was released in
1953 by NRCS, Aberdeen and Pullman PMCs, and Idaho Agricultural
Experiment Station. Its seeds are awnless, have finer leaves, retain
greenness, and retain palatability later into the summer than other
crested or desert wheatgrass. It yields less and has poorer seedling
vigor than these two related wheatgrasses. It is best adapted to 8
inches and above annual precipitation and is noted for tolerating longer
drought periods once established better than other wheatgrasses. It is
well adapted to light-sandy, droughty soils. Certified seed is
available. Aberdeen PMC maintains breeder and foundation seed.

ARS in Logan, Utah developed 'Vavilov' from collections originating from
the former USSR, Turkey, and P-27. ARS and the Utah Agricultural
Experiment Station released it in 1994. Seedling vigor is similar to
Hycrest and is consistently better than P-27. It is more droughts
tolerant and better adapted to sandy soils than other crested
wheatgrasses. It is best adapted to 8 inches and above annual
precipitation up to 7,000 feet elevation and is noted for tolerating
longer drought periods once established than other crested wheatgrasses.
It is expected that Vavilov will eventually replace P-27 on the
commercial seed market. Certified seed is available. ARS Logan, Utah
maintains breeder and foundation seed.

## References

Alderson, J. & W.C. Sharp 1994. *Grass varieties in the United States*.
Agriculture Handbook No. 170. USDA, SCS, Washington, D.C.

Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, & P. K.
Holmgren 1977. *Intermountain flora*. Vol. 6. The New York Botanical
Garden. Columbia University Press, New York, New York.

Harrison, R.D., N.J. Chatterton, R.J. Page, M. Curto, K.H. Asay, K.B.
Jensen, & W.H. Horton 1996. *Competition, biodiversity, invasion, and
wildlife use of selected introduced grasses in the Columbia and Great
Basins*. Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Report 155, Utah
State University, Logan, Utah. Version: 000418.
\<http://agx.usu.edu/agx/ResearchReports/USDAREPORT/toc.html\>.

Hitchcock, A. S. 1951. *Manual of the grasses of the United States*.
USDA, Washington, DC.

Tsvelev, N.N. 1983. *Grasses of the Soviet Union. Part I*. Oxonian Press
Pvt. Ltd., New Dehli. *Translation of*: Zlaki SSSR, Fedorov, A.A. (Ed.)
1976. Nauka Publishers, Leningrad Section, Leningrad.

USDA, Forest Service 1996. *Fire effects information system*. Version:
000417. \<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/\>. Rocky Mountain Research
Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Montana.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 000417.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

## Prepared By & Species Coordinator

# *Daniel G. Ogle*, USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

Edited: 17jan01jsp; 07feb03ahv; 24may06jsp

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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