Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners ssp. trachycaulus
Native Grass
Bulkley - Nechako
Cariboo - Fraser Fort George
Kootenay
Northeast - Peace Liard
Thompson - Okanagan
Boreal White and Black Spruce
Bunchgrass
Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir
Interior Cedar-Hemlock
Interior Douglas-fir
Montane Spruce
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Willow-Birch
Sub-Boreal Pine-Spruce
Sub-Boreal Spruce
350
600
Medium
320.000
Erosion control
Invasive plant suppression
Native plant community
Slender wheatgrass is found in native plant communities in the Peace Region.
Slender wheat grass is suitable for post wildfire and site rehabilitation when there is native plant community objective. Tolerance for alkaline soils with pH up to 9.0. Good seedling vigor but it is not long lived, and so should be seed in a mix with other native species. Varieties have been developed. Where there is a native plant community objective, and a desire to maintain a high level of ecological integrity, seed from local ecotypes or wild populations may be preferred.
Slender wheatgrass is a cool season, native perennial bunchgrass. Its roots are fibrous, sometimes with short rhizomes. This grass has a wide geographic distribution throughout North America. Like bluebunch wheatgrass, two subspecies occur in British Columbia. The awned version, Elymus trachycaulus ssp. subsecundus (Link) A. Love & D. Love, occurs more frequently in southern British Columbia, while the awnless plant (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners ssp. trachycaulus) is prevalent through most of the province. Awnless slender wheatgrass was propagated for seed production by the 1920s on the prairies and was known as western ryegrass. It was an important forage species until the introduction of crested wheatgrass in the 1930s. Stems typically range from 30 to120 cm (12 to 47 in.). It has leaves that are usually flat. Seed heads are slender and 8 to 20 cm (3 to 8 in.) long with overlapping spikelets. Spikelets are awned or awnless as noted in description above.
Native to North America
Slender wheatgrass is common throughout British Columbia and much of North America.
It occupies moderately moist to dry grasslands, meadows, forest openings, rocky ridges, and slopes throughout British Columbia and all vegetation zones.
Slender wheatgrass is utilized by both livestock and wildlife. Under optimal conditions it may also be harvested for hay. It has been used widely in both restoration and reclamation situations, in part because seedling vigour is better than other native grasses. It is quick to germinate, so that it also has some application for erosion control. It has been used for post- wildfire restoration, mine reclamation, and seeding of roadside right-of-ways and other disturbances.
Slender wheatgrass can be grazed at the 4-leaf stage, but should be grazed only once per year. It maintains growth into summer, cures fairly well, and can be grazed in fall and winter.
L
Slender wheatgrass is considered excellent forage but has low tolerance to heavy or repeated grazing.
M
Yield is variable depending on the site and establishment conditions. Yields of 5,170 kg/ha (4,616 lb/acre) can be expected in agronomic situations with good soil and moisture conditions.
Slender wheatgrass has average digestibility and crude protein ranging from 11% before heading to 9.5% at maturity.
L
Slender wheatgrass is considered relatively short lived (3-4 years). In seeded applications it is sometimes used as an interim species in mixtures that include longer-lived, slower-establishing species.
M
Seed production and drop should be allowed at least every other year, to increase persistence.
M
In some regions slender wheatgrass has so well established that it is considered a vigorous persistent weed.
M
Slender wheatgrass generally decreases in abundance, but because of early seedling vigour seeding rate should be limited to roughly 1 kg/ ha (around 1 lb of PLS per acre) in mixes where slower to establish species are used.
M
Because it is quick to establish, slender wheatgrass may be useful for reducing weedy species if applied immediately after disturbance.
M
Because it is quick to establish and has good seedling vigour, slender wheatgrass is often used in erosion control applications. Inclusion of longer-lived species is recommended for long-term stabilization.
M
Slender wheatgrass has fair drought tolerance.
H
Slender wheatgrass has good winter hardiness.
Slender wheatgrass prefers fine- to moderately-textured soils.
Slender wheatgrass is well suited to drained low lying areas, but can stand spring flooding of 2-5 weeks.
Slender wheatgrass has good salinity tolerance and is often used for reclamation on saline soils.
Slender wheatgrass can tolerate soil pH levels as low as 5.6.
Slender wheatgrass is susceptible to head smut (Ustilago bullata) and stripe smut (U. striiformis) and may be susceptible to infestations of grass billbug.
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Slender wheatgrass establishes easily. “Adanac” and “Revenue” are two common Canadian varieties and were both developed in Saskatchewan by Agriculture Canada. The Alberta Environmental Centre released “AEC Hillcrest” in 1994. This variety originates from the awned subspecies, and is expected to be suited to more difficult site conditions and shorter growing seasons.
In field situations, a firm weed free seed bed and a seeding rate of approximately 7 kg/ha (approx. 6 lb/acre of PLS or pure live seed per acre) are recommended. Seeding depth should be 0.6 to 2 cm (1/4 to 3/4 in.). In restoration and erosion control, or other broadcast seeded applications, a seeding rate of 1.5 to 2 times the drill seeded rate is recommended. Seeding rate should be reduced to 1 kg/ha (approx.1 lb PLS per acre) when combined with slower establishing native species to reduce seedling competition.
Slender wheatgrass is often included in seed mixes, with slower-establishing, longer-lived species.
In situations where slender wheatgrass is grazed by livestock, rest or deferment every 2-3 years should maximize persistence.