Grasses

E. A. Hollowell.

The most important grasses of which seed or vegetative propagating material is available in quantity are listed here.

The characterization of grass species and varieties as related to soils is not specific, because the interaction with climatic factors may greatly vary the growth responses of the plants to any set of soil conditions. Unfavorable factors such as acidity, alkalinity, salinity, and texture, which affect the adaptation of species, within limits may be compensated for by optimum conditions of other factors, such as moisture.

BEACHGRASSES (Ammophila species) are perennials. They grow in moderately acid to neutral soils and tolerate high salinity. They need shallow to deep, fine sand to loamy sands and moist to very moist conditions. They are benefited by applications of nitrogen. They are adapted to cool conditions and are winter hardy. They are used to control dunes and blowing soil.

American beachgrass (A. breviligulata) see Beachgrasses.

European beachgrass (A. arenaria) see Beachgrasses.

BERMUDA-GRASS (Cynodon dactylon) grows in shallow to deep, highly acid to neutral soils and is tolerant of high salinity. It likes gravelly loam to well-drained clay. It tolerates drought periods but prefers heavy moisture. Applications of nitrogen are beneficial. It is adapted to the Southern and Southwestern States.

Coastal and Suwannee are better adapted to deep sands. Midland is hardier. Greenfield grows better at low nutrient levels.

BLUFGRASSES (Poa) comprise many perennial species, which are adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions and are widely distributed throughout the United States.

Big bluegrass (P. ampla) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. Soils should be of average depth or deep, gravelly loam to well-drained clay. It prefers moist conditions, although it tolerates drought. Applications of nitrogen are beneficial. A perennial, it is adapted to the Northwestern States.

Bulbous bluegrass (P. bulbosa) grows in moderately acid to slightly alkaline soils. It is not tolerant of salinity. Deep or moderately deep silt loam to poorly drained clay are suitable. It needs moist to very moist conditions. Applications of nitrogen are helpful. It is adapted to cool-summer temperatures. It is a perennial and is grown mostly in the coastal section of the West.

Canada bluegrass (P. compressa) grows in highly acid to neutral, shallow or moderately deep, loamy sand or poorly drained clay. It tolerates moist to very moist conditions but is not tolerant of salinity. Applications of nitrogen benefit it. This perennial is adapted mostly to the humid Northeastern States and grows at relatively low nutrient levels.

Kentucky bluegrass (P. pratensis), a perennial, grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soils of average depth, deep silt loam, and well-drained clay. It needs moist to very moist conditions. Available phosphorus and calcium stimulate growth. It is adapted to the Northern States and upper South, particularly in places where available phosphate is abundant. It is adversely affected by high summer temperatures.

The rough bluegrass (P. trivialis) is a perennial that grows in moderately acid to neutral soils of shallow to average depth. Sandy loams to poorly drained clays are preferred. It is adapted to cool conditions of the Northern States. It is somewhat tolerant of shade.

BLUESTEM GRASSES, of many species, differ widely in adaptation to soil conditions. They grow in slightly acid to moderately alkaline soils. They are benefited slightly by application of nitrogen. They are adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions and are grown mainly in the Great Plains.

The following are the more important perennial bluestems.

Angleton grass (Andropogon nodosus) grows in moderately acid to neutral soils of average depth to deep, fine sand, and poorly drained clays. It is tolerant of high salinity. It requires moist to heavy-moisture conditions, but may survive periods of drought. It is adapted to the gulf coast region. The application of nitrogen is helpful.

Australian bluestem (A. intermedius) grows in fine sand to sandy loam of average depth or deeper. It is drought resistant. It is adapted to the southern Great Plains. It is not hardy.

Big bluestem (A. gerardi) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soils and in sandy loam to poorly drained clay of average depth. It tolerates dry to moist conditions. It is adapted to the central Great Plains.

Caucasian bluestem (A. caucasicus) is benefited by applications of nitrogen.

Little bluestem (A. scoparius) is more winter hardy and is better adapted to the northern Great Plains and to sandy soils on the southern high plains and to clay and sandy soils with good moisture.

Sand bluestem (A. hallii) grows in deep, fine sand to silt loams. It is adapted to conditions in the central and southern Great Plains.

Yellow bluestem (A. ischaemum) is tolerant of moderate salinity, is drought resistant, and is particularly adapted for use on eroded soils.

BROMEGRASSES (Bromus) include many species of perennials and annuals, which grow under widely different conditions and are benefited by the application of nitrogen. The perennials are adapted to the Northern States. The winter annuals grow in the South and the western coastal sections.

Field bromegrass (B. arvensis) grows in moderately acid to neutral soils and is not tolerant of salinity. Shallow to deep, sandy loam to poorly drained clay and moist to heavy-moisture conditions are preferred. It is a winter annual in Eastern and Pacific States.

Harlan bromegrass (B. stamineus) is a winter annual in California. (See Mountain bromegrass.)

Meadow bromegrass (B. erectus), a perennial, is widely distributed in the Northern States. (See Mountain bromegrass.)

Mountain bromegrass (B. carinatus) grows in slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil and is not tolerant of salinity. It grows in shallow to deep, fine sand to clay and requires moist conditions. This perennial is adapted to the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coastal regions.

Rescuegrass (B. catharticus) is adapted to the coastal section of the Western States and the lower South. It is a winter annual or a short-lived perennial.

Smooth bromegrass (B. inermis) grows in moderately acid to moderately alkaline soils and is not tolerant of salinity. It does best on deep sandy loam and well-drained clays that are moist. A perennial, it is widely adapted in the Central and Northern States.

BUFFALOGRASS, (Buchloe dactyloides) grows in slightly acid to moderately alkaline soils. It tolerates slight salinity. It needs shallow to moderately deep loam or well-drained clays and dry to moist conditions. It is drought resistant and is benefited slightly by applications of nitrogen. A warm-season perennial, it is particularly adapted to the heavy soils of the Great Plains.

BULBOUS BARLEY (Hordeum bulbosum) grows in neutral to moderately alkaline soil and is tolerant of slight salinity. It grows in sandy loam to clay loam of shallow or average depth. It needs moist to very moist condition but will tolerate drought periods. It i; moderately benefited by application,, of nitrogen. It grows in winter, i; adapted to the central part of the coastal region of the West, and is useful for eroded soils.

CANARYGRASSES include many perennial and annual species of Phalaris. They grow under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions.

Hardinggrass (P. tuberosa var. stenoptera) grows in slightly acid to highly alkaline soils and tolerates moderate salinity. It thrives in moist or very moist silt loam or poorly drained clay of average or greater depth. The application of nitrogen is helpful. It grows in winter and spring; in summer it remains dormant in the tuber stage. It grows in heavy soils in Oregon and California and to a limited extent in the gulf coast section of Texas.

Reed canarygrass (P. arundinacea), a perennial, grows in slightly acid to neutral, shallow to deep, silt loam to muck in moist or swampy conditions. It is not tolerant of salinity. It is widely grown in the Northern States. It will stand flooding for short periods. Nitrogen is beneficial.

CARPETGRASS (Axonopus affinis) grows in highly acid to slightly acid soils of shallow to average depth and of fine sand to clay loam. It requires a great deal of moisture and tolerates swampy conditions. It is benefited slightly by application of nitrogen. It is widely grown in the gulf coast section of the South. It is a perennial, warm-season grass, particularly adapted to low-lying sands. It does not tolerate salinity.

Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) grows in highly acid to neutral soils and is not tolerant of salinity. It needs shallow to deep, gravelly loam to loam and moist to very moist conditions. It is used mainly as a lawn grass and is best adapted to the sandy soils of the Southern States. It grows at low nutrient levels and is shade tolerant.

Desert saltgrass (Distichlis stricta) grows in slightly acid to highly alkaline soils and will tolerate high salinity. It grows in loam or poorly drained clay of shallow to average depth and moist to swampy conditions. It will tolerate drought, however. A perennial, it is adapted to the low salty soils of the intermountain and west coast States.

DROPSEEDS include many species of Sporobolus, which grow in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. They are adapted to the southern Great Plains and the Southwestern States. They are benefited slightly by the application of nitrogen.

Alkali sacaton (S. airoides) grows in neutral to highly alkaline soil and is tolerant of high salinity. It grows in fine sand to clay loam and is a perennial. It stands dry conditions.

Sacatongrass (S. wrightii) is less tolerant of alkaline and saline conditions and requires more moisture than alkali sacaton.

Sand dropseed (S. cryptandrus), a perennial, grows in neutral to moderately alkaline soil. It is tolerant of slight salinity and dry conditions.

FESCUE (Festuca species) is adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions in the Northern States and in the South at higher altitudes.