Description

Psathyrostachys juncea, Russian Wildrye
(old nomenclature: Elymus junceus) (Introduced)

Medium height, 2½ – 3½ ft. tall, long-lived, drought-tolerant, cool-season, bunchgrass. Adapted to all soil textures but does best on loams. Moderate tolerance to salt and alkali. Excellent palatable forage. Greens up early and stays palatable later into the summer/fall than crested wheat. Has good regrowth after grazing and is tolerant to close grazing. Very important species for range, pasture and wildlife habitat improvement projects. Minimum precip. is 7 – 10 inches. Plant in fall ¼ – ½ inch deep. 162,000 seeds/lb.

Named Releases: ‘Bozoisky Select’ (Cultivar) Release in 1984 by the Logan, UT ARS. Selected for improved seedling vigor and forage yield. Has been very successful on many adapted sites in the west.

‘Bozoisky II’ (Cultivar) Released by the Logan, UT ARS. Selected for better seedling vigor, seed mass, seed yield, vegetative vigor, total dry matter yield, and response to drought. It is a 15 clone, broad based, synthetic release.

USDA: Plant Profile | Plant Guide