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Pseudoroegneria (spicata)

Dave Skinner
PMC Farm Manager
USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center
Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU
Pullman, Washington 99164-6211
509-335-9689
509-335-2940 (fax)
abbie@wsu.edu
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc
Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass
Scientific Name: Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Love spicata
Common Synonym: Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. & J.G. Sm. spicatum
Common Name: Bluebunch wheatgrass
Species Code: PSSPS
General Distribution: Arid and semi-arid portions of the western US and Canada east to Montana and south to Texas, except California and Arizona, where mean annual precipitation ranges from 10-35 inches. In eastern Washington it is one of the dominant native grasses from sagebrush to Ponderosa pine ecosystems.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 4 Years
Target Specifications: Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seed ripens in mid to late July in the Pullman area. It is collected when the inflorescence begins to dry and the seed is in the soft to hard dough stage but before it shatters from the inflorescence. Seed can be stripped from the inflorescence or the inflorescence can be clipped from the plant. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned.
126,000 seeds/lb. (USDA, NRCS. 2004).
95-150,000 seeds/lb. (Hassell, et al. 1996).
Propagule Processing: Small amounts are rubbed to free the seed, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are threshed with a hammermill or a plot thresher, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Processing seed with a hammermill or a debearder will facilitate seed flow in cleaning equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seed germinates well without pretreatment.
Bluebunch wheatgrass will germinate under a wide variety of soil temperatures (Young, Eckert & Evans. 1981).
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 In January seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. Head space of 1/4 to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase: Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 5 days and is complete in 10 days.
Length of Establishment Phase: 2 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 3 months
Hardening Phase: Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2-4 weeks
Other Comments: No insect problems have been noted.
Clean seed retains high germination for at least ten years under cool, dry storage conditions. High heat and/or high humidity reduce seed storage life.
Plants may be propagated by division. This method should only be used for plants growing in cultivation. Plants should not be dug up from stands in the wild.
References: Hassell, et al. 1996. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species. USDI National Park Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA.
USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Young, J.A., R.E. Eckert, Jr., and R.A. Evans 1981. Temperature profiles for Germination of Bluebunch and Beardless Wheatgrasses. Journal of Range Management, 34:84-89.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Love plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/05). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.