A Comparative Evaluation of Cool-Season Rangeland Grasses for Establishment, Yield, and Forage Quality.

The choice of plant materials is an important component of revegetation of disturbed rangeland sites. An evaluation trial of the dominant cool-season grasses used for revegetation was conducted near Beaver, Utah. This study compared stand establishment, persistence, forage yield, and forage quality of 15 grass species. Multiple cultivars and entries were evaluated within each species. Initial stand establishment ranged from 7% to 98%. Plots were evaluated over a 5 year period. Year 5 stand persistence values ranged from 0% to 100%. Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth & D. R. Dewey), Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.), and Basin Wildrye (Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) had the highest forage yields.