The Sidney herald., 1958-05-08
Plant Grasses
On Conservation
Reserve Land
BY J. F. Langendorf, U. s. Soil
Conservation Service

FARMERS and ranchers should
plant only the grasses recon-
mended for Eastern Montana. The
results of many years experiences
with numerous variation of tame
and native grasses by the Soil
Conservation Service and other
State and Federal agencies indi-
cate that crested wheat grass is
the most reliable variety of tame
grass for general dryland seedlings
IN Eastern Montana. However, the
addition of one or two native
grasses such as green needle
grass and western wheat or both
TO crested wheat grass provides
better ground cover for erosion
control.
The writer observed hundreds
OF acres of nearly pure stand of
crested wheat grass seeding ia
Eastern Montana during the past
decade. Nearly all of the estan-
lIshed fields sho wa high percen-
tage of bare between plants
which is subject to wind and
water erosion. Crested wheat grass
IS a bunch grass and old plant
lngs show a pedestal effect which
indicates that some erosion has
occurred over the years. Almost
complete ground cover is achiev-
ed by adding one or two sod
forming native grasses such as
grass to the mixture. A combina-
ton green needle and western
wheat of these grasses will also
produce more and better fee
for livestock.
The above combination Of
grasses is recommended by the
Soil Conservation Service for
nearly all dry land grass plant
ings in Eastern Montaa. Buffer
strips on contour stripped fields
should be seeded to this combine
ton of tame and native grasses
as well as dry crop land no long
er needed for crop production.
The addition of one-half pound Of
alfalfa to any grass seed mixture
is profitable.
Seeding rates for these grasses
should III approximately 8 to
D pounds of crested wheat grass,
l to 2 pounds of green needle
grass, l to 2 pounds of western
wheat grass, and one-haf pound
OF alfalfa per acre.
Farmers and ranchers may have
fields with certain soil conditions
which should be seeded to other
varieties of grass. For example,
tall wheat grass produces quite
abundantly on some wet saline
lands; a mixture of smooth
bronze, intermediate wheat grass
and western wheat grass are ideal
for erased waterways. 1t is wise
to consult your County Agent or
Soil Conservation Service Techni-
clan concerning the varieties,
seeding rates and mixtures adapt
ed to your conditions.
The source of the grass seed
as well as its termination and
purity, should certainly be con-
sidered. Out of state grass seed
should come from states having
similar climatic conditions as
Montana. Seed produced in North |
Dakota or in Canada would be
more adapted than seed produced
IN Nebraska or Kansas.
termination and purity re-
1ulrements are set up in the Ag-
Sterilization and Con-
iervation ACP Manual. In order
0 receive payment for grass
eeding these requirements must
re met. F.,
Grass seed should not be plant ,
ID more than one-half inch in !,
The seeded should be ,
irm and to secure the best stands, :
or nurse crops should :
be planted on dry land. The :
rass seedlings will have a much :
'etter chance to survive if they }
% not have to compete with :
ompanion crops or weeds for :
valuable moisture. :
1t is a good business to seed :
our low producing crop field 6
'ack to grass under the Conser- :
alton Reserve program. /.