NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-95 1

United States Department of Agriculture

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

Plant Materials Technical Note No. MT-95

September 2013

PLANT MATERIALS TECHNICAL NOTE

MEADOW BROME 

Bromus biebersteinii 

An Introduced Grass for Conservation Use in Montana and Wyoming

Roger M. Hybner, Research Agronomist, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana

Cattle grazing meadow brome

General Description

Meadow brome collected in Turkey was first introduced into the United States in 1949. The initial 

evaluations of the species in the West were conducted at the Plant Materials Centers in Pullman, 

Washington, and Aberdeen, Idaho. 

Meadow brome is a long-lived, perennial grass producing short, stout rhizomes 4 to 6 inches long, 

but does not become sod-bound. It creeps slowly, and therefore may have a bunch grass 

appearance, especially in thin stands. Individual plants become larger at the base when fully 

established, especially under good moisture and fertility conditions. The plant has numerous light 

green leaves that are predominantly basal and mildly pubescent. Seed stalks are from 24 to 48

inches tall and extend above the leaf mass in an open panicle. Pure, solid stands provide strong 

competition with annual and perennial weeds.

Meadow brome contains some of the desirable features of both smooth brome (Bromus inermis) 

and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata). It can extend the prime grazing season, increase total 

forage production, and most varieties are compatible with alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Meadow 

brome has much faster recovery after utilization, produces more basal leaves, has better fall 
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growth, and is more palatable as both green forage and cured hay than smooth brome. Meadow 

brome has good drought tolerance and excellent winter-hardiness.

Adaptation

Meadow brome is adapted to a broad range of soil conditions. It performs best on moderatelydeep to deep, fertile, well-drained soils, but also performs fairly well on shallower soils. Preferred 

soil textures range from coarse gravelly to medium-textured. Meadow brome grows well under 

dryland conditions receiving greater than 14 inches of annual precipitation, but performs best with 

16 inches or more of annual precipitation or under irrigation. It is rated “poor” to “moderate” for 

salinity tolerance (less than 5 mmhos per centimeter) and is sensitive to flooding, often dying if 

under water for more than 10 days. Meadow brome has performed well at elevations from 500 

feet to over 6,000 feet. There is some indication its range may extend into a lower rainfall zone 

and to slightly lower elevations than smooth brome. 

Conservation Uses

Use for Hay: Grown alone or in a mixture with a legume, meadow brome produces excellent hay 

due to its dense basal growth. It retains a better grass/legume ratio with alfalfa in grass-alfalfa 

mixtures than smooth brome.

Recent research near Buffalo, Wyoming, has shown meadow brome will not produce as much 

biomass given the same rate of nitrogen fertilization as smooth brome or intermediate and 

pubescent wheatgrass (both Thinopyrum intermedium). One strategy to boost late-spring and 

summer irrigated production is to fertilize in a split application after the first and second 

cutting/grazing periods. Apply fertilizer based on current soil tests and balance the rates for 

nitrogen and phosphorus to maintain the desired stands of both grasses and legumes, i.e., if more 

grass is needed in the stand, more nitrogen fertilizer is added. If the legume component is the 

most important, add more phosphorous fertilizer. 

 

 Meadow brome seed Meadow brome seedheads

From 2002 to 2004, ’MacBeth’ meadow brome produced 11.40 to 11.64 tons dry matter per acre 

at the Bozeman and Kalispell test sites, respectively, 118% of the statewide mean of 30 grass 

entries.

Use for Pasture: Meadow brome is palatable to sheep, cattle, horses, and many classes of 

wildlife. It responds well to rotation-deferred grazing systems, and starts spring growth earlier than 

most other grasses, although it can become stemmy if not harvested quickly. Meadow brome is 

ready for grazing when it reaches 8 to 12 inches in height, and livestock should be removed when 

3 to 4 inches of stubble remains. A 3 to 4 week regrowth period is necessary for maximum 
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production and longevity of the stand. Meadow brome has a strong re-growth characteristic, which 

results in consistent growth over the growing season with continued forage value into the fall. With 

adequate soil moisture, the leaves stay green and continue to grow even after seed maturation.

About 6 inches of re-growth should be left in the fall to enhance carbohydrate root reserves to 

support early growth the next spring. A good practice is to use no more than 60% of the annual 

growth during the winter season or 50% during the growing season. To maintain long-lived 

stands, meadow brome should be allowed to periodically mature and produce seed before 

grazing.

Erosion control/reclamation: Due to its slow spread by rhizomes and seed, meadow brome is best 

adapted to stabilization of disturbed soils in areas with 14 inches or more of annual precipitation.

Ease of Establishment

Meadow brome has approximately 93,000 seeds per pound. For dryland and irrigated plantings, a 

seeding rate of 10 pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre is recommended (21.3 seeds per 

square foot). If broadcast or planted for critical area treatment, double the seeding rate to 20 

pounds PLS per acre or 42.6 seeds PLS per square foot. Broadcasting on critical areas could 

require as much as 40 PLS pounds per acre (see NRCS, Plant Materials Technical Note, MT-46, 

Seeding Rates for Conservation Species for Montana and Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG), 

Section IV, Practice Specification, Critical Area Planting, Code 342, for recommended planting 

rates). 

When planting with legumes, an alternate-row planting is recommended to accommodate 

differences in seedling vigor. Use 6 to 8 PLS pounds per acre of meadow brome seed with this 

planting method.

Seedlings are vigorous and stands are easy to establish on firm, weed-free seedbeds. Meadow 

brome seeds, however, do not flow uniformly through a drill unless mixed with rice hulls or other 

carriers to prevent “bridging” across drill box openings. Dryland and erosion control plantings 

should be made in the late fall or very early spring when soil moisture is not limited. Irrigated 

plantings should be made in early to mid-spring. Seeding depth should be no deeper than 1⁄4- to 

1⁄2-inch.

Meadow brome is compatible with other legumes, including cicer milkvetch (Astragulus cicer), 

birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), and red and alsike clover

(Trifolium pratense and Trifolium hybridum), respectively). At planting, be sure to inoculate these 

legumes with the proper Rhizobium for each species. When seeding meadow brome in mixtures, 

adjust the seeding rate to attain the percentage of meadow brome desired in the stand. 

Under dryland conditions, new plantings should not be grazed until late-summer or fall of the 

second growing season. Seedlings may be severely damaged or killed by overgrazing, especially 

during the seedling year. Under irrigated conditions, the new planting should not be grazed until 

late-summer or fall of the first growing season. To prevent grazing damage during critical 

establishment periods, the best management practice is to harvest meadow brome for hay.

When planting for seed production, treat the seed in the drillbox with a fungicide labeled to reduce 

head smut, which are common in bromes. Major seed loss from head smut usually occurs in the 

first year’s seed crop. Irrigated seed production plantings should have at least 24 inches between

rows. The recommended PLS seeding rate for 24-inch row spacing is 5 pounds per acre and 4 

pounds per acre at the 30-inch row spacing. Dryland seed yields are commonly 150 to 200 bulk 

pounds per acre; whereas, irrigated seed yields range from 450 to 600 bulk pounds per acre. 

Seed matures fairly evenly and is ready for harvest in mid- to late-July. Harvest seed by swathing
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at the firm dough stage and then combine the windrow about 7 days later, once the seed has 

matured.

Direct combining is also acceptable, but the field must be closely monitored and harvested before 

seed shatter occurs. The seed should be at or below 12% moisture for storage in bins and at or 

below 15% for storage in sacks.

Meadow brome seed production fields remain productive for two to three seed crops. Betweenrow cultivation and ripping may help to extend the stands productive life. ‘Fleet’, ‘Paddock’, 

‘Montana’, and ‘MacBeth’ were selected for a longer seed production life and higher seed 

production in the third production year when compared to ‘Regar’ (see NRCS, Plant Materials 

Technical Note, MT-69, Standard and Preferred Forage and Reclamation Plants for Use in 

Montana and Wyoming, for a list of recommended varieties). 

Limitations

The variety, ‘Regar’, is the most susceptible of all meadow brome varieties to be covered with head 

smut (Ustillago bullata). ‘Regar’ also has an early heading characteristic, which limits its use with 

alfalfa.

Head smut in a brome seedhead 

on the left, normal seedhead on the right

There have been no reported insect or disease problems in forage-producing fields of meadow 

brome. Head smut does not appear detrimental in plantings used for forage production or erosion 

control. Banks grass mite (Oligonychus pratensis) has been observed in seed production fields, 

but only at moderate levels of infestation.

Meadow brome has been used in the northern United States and southern Canada for over 

60years and has not posed any environmental concerns. It is not considered weedy, but could 

spread into adjoining degraded plant communities via seed under ideal conditions.
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Availability and Releases

Meadow brome is available on the commercial seed market (see NRCS, Plant Materials

Technical Note, MT-57, Plant and Seed Vendors for Idaho-Montana-Nevada-Eastern OregonUtah-Eastern Washington-Wyoming) for a list of vendors. Foundation, Registered, and Certified 

seed classes are recognized.

‘Cache’ meadow brome was developed by the USDA-ARS, Forage and Range Research 

Laboratory at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, and was released in 2004 with Plant Variety 

Protection (PVP). Cache was derived from selections of ‘Regar’, ‘Fleet’, and ‘Paddock’ and was 

selected for improved seedling establishment and increased forage yields on irrigated and semiirrigated pastures in the Intermountain and Northern Great Plains regions of the western United 

States. 

‘MacBeth’ meadow brome was developed at Montana State University and released in 2001. 

‘MacBeth’ has similar forage yields to ‘Regar’, ‘Fleet’, and ‘Paddock’, with a slight yield advantage 

in Montana dryland trials. At two test locations, ‘MacBeth’ produced more total forage of the 30 

accessions evaluated in the trials.

‘Montana’ meadow brome was also released by Montana State University in 2001 and licensed 

exclusively to a private seed company. ‘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% higher seed yields than ‘Paddock’ and 

167% 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 an 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. 

References

Plant Guide for meadow brome Bromus biebersteinii. Available at http://plants.usda.gov. 

Pasture and Range Seedings: Planning-Installation-Evaluation-Management. Technical Note 10. 

Ogle, D., L. St. John, M. Stannard, J. Cornwel, L. Holzworth; 2011b. USDA-Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. Boise, ID. 35p.

Seed Production Standards for Conservation Plants in the Intermountain West. Technical Note 

14. Cornforth, B., L. St. John, D. Ogle; 2001. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Boise, ID. 13p.

Conservation Plant Materials for the Intermountain West, Technical Note 24. Ogle, D., L. St. John, 

M. Stannard, L. Holzworth; 2011a. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Boise, ID. 

57p.

For seeding rates see Plant Materials Technical Note MT-46 (Revision 3). Available at 

http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/plants/technotes. 

For proper seed source selection, see Montana Technical Note MT-67: Seed Source Selection, 

Use of Certified Seed, and Appropriate Seed Release Class Improve Conservation Planting 

Success. Available at http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/plants/technotes. 
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For recommended variety selection, see Standard and Preferred Forage and Reclamation Plants 

for Use in Montana & Wyoming Plant Materials Technical Note MT-69: Available at 

http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/plants/technotes. 

For proper cultural practices and grazing guidelines, see either MSU EB-19: Dryland Pastures in 

Montana & Wyoming—Species and Cultivars, Seeding Techniques and Grazing Management or 

MSU EB-99: Irrigated Pastures in Montana & Wyoming. Available at http://www.plantmaterials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/mtpmspu1138.pdf. 

Forage Variety Update for Wisconsin–2012 Trial Results, Undersander, D., M. Bertram, J. Clark, 

A. Crooks, M. Rankin, K. Silveira, and T. Wood. Available at 

http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/A1525.PDF

Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook EB-69. Smoliak, S., R. Ditterline, J. Scheetz, L. 

Holzworth, J. Sims, L. Wiesner, D. Baldrige, G. Tibke; 1990. Montana State University Extension, 

Bozeman, MT. 337p.

Forage and Reclamation Grasses of the Northern Plains and Rocky Mountains. Majerus, M. 2009. 

Valley Printers, Bridger, MT. 161p.

Alberta Forage Manual – Second Edition, Aasen, A. and M. Bjorge, et al; 2009. 340p.

Grasses for the Northern Plains: Growth Patterns, Forage Characteristics and Wildlife Values, 

Volume 1 - Cool Season. Sedivec, K., D. Tober, W. Duckwitz, D. Dewald, J. Printz; 2007. NDSU 

Extension Service, Fargo, ND, 89p. 

Plant Releases – Plants for the West, USDA- ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory, 

Logan, Utah.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Perennial Cool Season Grasses Under Irrigation for Hay Production, 

Horn, B., Newsletter. University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, Buffalo, Wyoming, 

April 2012, 9p. 

Montana State University, Online. Cool Season Grass Performance in Montana (Irrigated Trials, 

2001). Available at http://www.animalrangeextension.montana.edu/