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| ## Sand Lovegrass {#sand-lovegrass .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Eragrostis trichodes* (Nutt.) Alph. Wood                             |
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| Plant Symbol = ERTR3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center Manhattan, Kansas

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2284722222222224in"
height="2.9680555555555554in"}

R. Alan Shadow, East Texas PMC, Nacogdoches, TX

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Sand love grass, tall love grass, sandhill lovegrass

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Sand lovegrass is a native, warm-season, perennial bunch grass that is
palatable and preferred by grazing livestock in the central and southern
Great Plains. It begins growth as much as two weeks earlier than other
warm-season grasses. Sand lovegrass remains green into the fall and
retains fair forage value even after maturity (Stubbendieck et al.
1982). It is known to cure well on the stem and provide winter forage
for livestock and wildlife. It is included in range reseeding mixtures
to provide quick cover and early forage production (Leithead et al.
1971). It is occasionally cut for hay.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

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).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Grass family (Poaceae). Sand lovegrass is a native,
warm-season, short-lived, perennial, bunch grass found on sandy soil
sites in the central and southern plains states. The erect culms are 80
to 120 cm tall, solid or hollow below. The leaf blades are flat to
involute or rolled in at the margins, with a prominent midrib. The leaf
blade is 20 to 46 cm long and 1.5 to 6 mm wide and taper to a slender
point. The narrow leaf blade will roll inward under dry conditions to
conserve moisture; this gives the leaf blade a threadlike appearance.
The panicle type inflorescence is open or diffuse, oblong and usually
half as long as the entire culm (Pohl 1978). The panicle is branched 3
or 4 times and the branches are curved alternately in opposite
directions. The spikelets are 3.8 to 10 mm long, 1.5 to 6 mm wide and
contain from 4 to 6 flowers (Barkley et al. 1986). The individual
florets are frequently purplish with yellow glumes (Pohl 1978). The
caryopsis is dark brown, strongly grooved on the side opposite the
embryo and .8 to 1.1 mm long. Chromosome number is 2n=40. Sand lovegrass
possesses the C-4 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation (Waller and
Lewis 1979).

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Natural
distribution of sand lovegrass is from the sandhills in northwestern
Nebraska, east to Illinois and then south to central Texas.

*Habitat*: Grows principally on deep sands and sandy loam soils on sandy
prairies and open sandy woods.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

This tall, leafy grass has been reported to grow in ten central Great
Plains states from Colorado to Illinois and south to Texas. It grows
best on sandy soils in the 45 to 90 cm rainfall areas. It is sometimes
found growing on heavier type soils. It is best adapted to growth on
north and east facing slopes (Moser and Perry 1983). Sand lovegrass has
a shallow, widely spreading root system (Weaver 1968). It will show
decrease in stand numbers under intense grazing pressure. Sand lovegrass
occurs in mixed native stands with hairy grama (*Bouteloua* *hirsuta*),
western wheatgrass (*Pascopyrum smithii*), Scribners panicum
(*Dicanthelium oligosanthes*), sand dropseed (*Sporobolus cryptandrus*)
and needle and thread (*Hesperostipa comata*).

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Propagation of *Eragrostis trichodes* is accomplished by seed and by the
previous year's growth increasing in size by tillering and sometimes
rooting at the nodes of basal stems (Adams 1956). Perez et al. (1998)
conducted a seedbank study in the Nebraska sandhills to determine in
part the diversity and size, seed dormancy and germination, and seedling
emergence in this fragile ecosystem. Seed quantity was greater in the
shallower seedbank (0 to 5 cm) than in the deeper seedbank (15 to 20
cm). Sand dropseed (*Sporobolus cryptandrus*) and sand lovegrass were
the most common perennial grass species identified in both seedbank
levels across years. However, the basal coverage for these species in
the above ground vegetation was relatively low.

With respect to total germination sand dropseed and sand lovegrass were
the most prominent grass seedlings identified. Some atrazine tolerance
is present in some warm-season grasses, but not in sand lovegrass
(Martin et al. 1982). Seedbed preparation should provide a weed free,
firm surface on which to plant. Since seed size is small the planting
depth should be 2.5 to 5 mm to allow seedling emergence.

Neoteric seed of *E. trichodes* often shows considerable dormancy. This
quality may be considered desirable for range seedings since seedlings
continue to emerge over a longer period of time (Ahring et al. 1963).

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Sand lovegrass provides highly palatable forage for livestock and is
sometimes referred to as "ice cream grass" because of its palatability.
Total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) accumulation or carbohydrate
reserves of a plant have been shown to play an important role in grass
management and survival. Carbohydrate reserves of perennial grasses are
important for winter survival, spring regrowth, and regrowth after
herbage removal by clipping or grazing. According to Perry and Moser
(1974) sand lovegrass has its greatest percentage of carbohydrate
reserves located in their stem bases. Thus, sand lovegrass should not be
closely grazed at any time during the growing season (Moser and Perry
1983).

They further stated that defoliation once early in the growing season
(June) appeared to be less detrimental to plant survival than late
summer defoliations. In rangelands where good stands exist, sand
lovegrass would yield and persist best in a rotational grazing system
where defoliation was limited to once a year and it should have some
leaf tissue remaining at the end of the grazing period. Sand lovegrass
is a short lived plant even with light defoliation. Seed production
should be permitted to allow for the possibility of new seedling
development.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

##### Grasshoppers, leafhoppers and other forage eating insects are very destructive to seedling stands. Rabbits and rodents are also damaging to seedlings. Vogel and Kindler (1980) observed subterranean root aphids *(Geoica utricularia*) at the Mead Field Laboratory when digging and moving sand lovegrass selections to a crossing block from a selection nursery. Subsequent investigations indicated that the white, pear shaped aphids were infesting the roots of all sand lovegrass plots. Later experiments using two insecticides and a control (non-treated plots) indicated that the aphids were significantly reducing forage yields in the untreated plots of sand lovegrass.  {#grasshoppers-leafhoppers-and-other-forage-eating-insects-are-very-destructive-to-seedling-stands.-rabbits-and-rodents-are-also-damaging-to-seedlings.-vogel-and-kindler-1980-observed-subterranean-root-aphids-geoica-utricularia-at-the-mead-field-laboratory-when-digging-and-moving-sand-lovegrass-selections-to-a-crossing-block-from-a-selection-nursery.-subsequent-investigations-indicated-that-the-white-pear-shaped-aphids-were-infesting-the-roots-of-all-sand-lovegrass-plots.-later-experiments-using-two-insecticides-and-a-control-non-treated-plots-indicated-that-the-aphids-were-significantly-reducing-forage-yields-in-the-untreated-plots-of-sand-lovegrass. .Header-3}

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

##### Sand lovegrass does not pose any known negative concerns to the environment. Its ability to grow and survive on sandy sites provides increased ground cover which reduces both wind and water erosion on these sites.  {#sand-lovegrass-does-not-pose-any-known-negative-concerns-to-the-environment.-its-ability-to-grow-and-survive-on-sandy-sites-provides-increased-ground-cover-which-reduces-both-wind-and-water-erosion-on-these-sites. .Header-3}

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

##### Seed can be harvested with a standard combine and cleaned with a fanning mill. Seed of sand lovegrass is extremely small with 3,810,000 seeds per kg or 1.5 million seeds per pound. A five year average seed yield for 'Bend' sand lovegrass at the Manhattan Plant Materials Center (PMC) was 197 kg per ha. This average yield was reported with supplemental irrigation and additional fertility as a management option. Ahring et al. (1963) found that sand lovegrass seed germinated better under alternating temperature regimes and when moistened with a Ca(NO3)2 solution. {#seed-can-be-harvested-with-a-standard-combine-and-cleaned-with-a-fanning-mill.-seed-of-sand-lovegrass-is-extremely-small-with-3810000-seeds-per-kg-or-1.5-million-seeds-per-pound.-a-five-year-average-seed-yield-for-bend-sand-lovegrass-at-the-manhattan-plant-materials-center-pmc-was-197-kg-per-ha.-this-average-yield-was-reported-with-supplemental-irrigation-and-additional-fertility-as-a-management-option.-ahring-et-al.-1963-found-that-sand-lovegrass-seed-germinated-better-under-alternating-temperature-regimes-and-when-moistened-with-a-cano32-solution. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for
more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government". The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

'Nebraska 27' sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by the Nebraska
Agriculture Experiment Station, USDA Agriculture Research Service, and
USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1949. The original collection
was made in northern Holt County, Nebraska. Nebraska 27 is described as
a winter hardy, relatively long-lived strain of sand lovegrass. Well
adapted to a range of soil types and produces palatable and highly
nutritious livestock forage.

'Mason' sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by USDA Soil
Conservation Service and the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station in
1971. The original collection was made by SCS personnel from native
stands near Mason, Texas. Mason is described as leafier, having better
seed and forage production and begins growth earlier in the spring than
common sand lovegrass lines.

'Bend' sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by the Kansas
Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA's Agriculture Research Service
and Soil Conservation Service in 1971. The original collections were
made from the Arkansas and Cimarron River basin in south central Kansas
and adjacent areas in Oklahoma. Two cycles of selection for vigor and
persistence were conducted on non-irrigated sandy soil. Bend is
described as uniform in maturity, a good seed producer, good
establishment characteristics and relatively disease free. Bend had
acceptable dry matter yield and good vigor in comparative tests.

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Adams, K.S. 1956. *Native grasses: legumes and* *forbs: section 2 of a series*. Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Oklahoma. {#adams-k.s.-1956.-native-grasses-legumes-and-forbs-section-2-of-a-series.-phillips-petroleum-co.-bartlesville-oklahoma. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Ahring, R.M., N.L. Dunn, and J.R. Harlan. 1963. Effect of treatments in breaking dormancy in sand lovegrass, *Eragrostis trichodes* (Nutt.) Wood. *Crop* *Science* 3: 131-133. {#ahring-r.m.-n.l.-dunn-and-j.r.-harlan.-1963.-effect-of-treatments-in-breaking-dormancy-in-sand-lovegrass-eragrostis-trichodes-nutt.-wood.-crop-science-3-131-133. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Barkley, T.M., R.L. McGregor, R.E. Brooks, and E.K. Schofield. 1986. *Flora of the Great Plains*. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. {#barkley-t.m.-r.l.-mcgregor-r.e.-brooks-and-e.k.-schofield.-1986.-flora-of-the-great-plains.-university-press-of-kansas-lawrence-kansas. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Perez, C.J., S.S. Waller, L.E. Moser, J.L. Stubbendieck, and A.A. Steuter. 1998. Seedbank characteristics of a Nebraska sandhills prairie. *J. of Range Man.* 51: 55-62. {#perez-c.j.-s.s.-waller-l.e.-moser-j.l.-stubbendieck-and-a.a.-steuter.-1998.-seedbank-characteristics-of-a-nebraska-sandhills-prairie.-j.-of-range-man.-51-55-62. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Leithead, H.L., L.L. Yarlett, and T.N. Shiflet. 1971. *100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states.* USDA SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 389, Washington, DC. {#leithead-h.l.-l.l.-yarlett-and-t.n.-shiflet.-1971.-100-native-forage-grasses-in-11-southern-states.-usda-scs-agriculture-handbook-no.-389-washington-dc. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Martin, A.R., R.S. Moomaw, and K.P. Vogel. 1982.  {#martin-a.r.-r.s.-moomaw-and-k.p.-vogel.-1982. .Header-3}

##### Warm-season grass establishment with atrazine. *Agron. J*. 74: 916-920. {#warm-season-grass-establishment-with-atrazine.-agron.-j.-74-916-920. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Moser, L.E. and L.J. Perry. 1983. Yield, vigor, and persistence of sand lovegrass \[*Eragrostis trichodes* (Nutt.) Wood\] following clipping treatments. *J. of Range Man.* 36:236-238. {#moser-l.e.-and-l.j.-perry.-1983.-yield-vigor-and-persistence-of-sand-lovegrass-eragrostis-trichodes-nutt.-wood-following-clipping-treatments.-j.-of-range-man.-36236-238. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Perry, L.J. and L.E. Moser. 1974. Carbohydrate and organic nitrogen concentrations within range grass parts at maturity. *J. of Range Man*. 27: 276-278. {#perry-l.j.-and-l.e.-moser.-1974.-carbohydrate-and-organic-nitrogen-concentrations-within-range-grass-parts-at-maturity.-j.-of-range-man.-27-276-278. .Header-3}

#####   {#section-10 .Header-3}

##### Pohl, R.W. 1978. *How to know the grasses*. Dubuque (IA): William C. Brown Publishing Co. {#pohl-r.w.-1978.-how-to-know-the-grasses.-dubuque-ia-william-c.-brown-publishing-co. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-11 .Header-3}

##### Stubbendieck, J., S.L. Hatch, K.J. Kjar. 1982. *North American Range Plants.* University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska. {#stubbendieck-j.-s.l.-hatch-k.j.-kjar.-1982.-north-american-range-plants.-university-of-nebraska-press-lincoln-nebraska. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-12 .Header-3}

#####  Vogel, K.P. and S.D. Kindler. 1980. Effects of the subterranean aphid \[*Geoica utricularia* (Passerini)\] {#vogel-k.p.-and-s.d.-kindler.-1980.-effects-of-the-subterranean-aphid-geoica-utricularia-passerini .Header-3}

##### on forage yield and quality of sand lovegrass. *J. of Range Man.* 33:272-274.  {#on-forage-yield-and-quality-of-sand-lovegrass.-j.-of-range-man.-33272-274. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-13 .Header-3}

##### Waller, S.S. and J.K. Lewis. 1979. Occurrence of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in North American grasses. *J. of Range Man*. 32: 12-28. {#waller-s.s.-and-j.k.-lewis.-1979.-occurrence-of-c3-and-c4-photosynthetic-pathways-in-north-american-grasses.-j.-of-range-man.-32-12-28. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-14 .Header-3}

##### Weaver, J.E. 1968. *Prairie plants and their environment.* University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska. {#weaver-j.e.-1968.-prairie-plants-and-their-environment.-university-of-nebraska-press-lincoln-nebraska. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-15 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By {#prepared-by .Header-3}

Richard Wynia USDA-NRCS Manhattan Plant Materials Center, Manhattan,
Kansas

##### Species Coordinator {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

Richard Wynia USDA-NRCS Manhattan Plant Materials Center, Manhattan,
Kansas

##### Edited: 080228 jsp {#edited-080228-jsp .Header-4}

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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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Conservation
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