Dryland Pastures in Montana and Wyoming

Species and Cultivars, Seeding Techniques and Grazing Management

Last Updated: 09/03
by Larry Holzworth, Plant materials specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bozeman, MT; Jeff Mosley, Extension range management specialist, Montana State University-Bozeman; Dennis Cash, Extension forage specialist, Montana State University-Bozeman; David Koch, Extension forage specialist, University of Wyoming-Laramie; and Kelly Crane, former Extension range management specialist, University of Wyoming-Laramie

Species and Cultivars, Seeding Techniques and Grazing Management

Profitable ranching depends upon the management of land, livestock, financial and human resources. To be economically and ecologically successful, ranchers must adapt to their environment and develop a well-balanced, year-round forage plan that satisfies livestock nutrient requirements and at the same time sustains forage resources. Forage resources include hayland, rangeland, crop aftermath and seeded pastures.

Seeded pastures can supply nutritious forage at times during the year when other sources are inadequate or unavailable. This requires integrating seeded pastures into the total ranch operation. To ensure a satisfactory return for each dollar invested, seeded species must be adapted to the site’s soil, hydrology and climate, fit a rancher’s needs and be properly established and managed.

Local experience, observations and research should be considered when plant- ing and managing dryland pastures. A four-step process maximizes the effectiveness of dryland pasture seedings:

  1. determine seeding objectives,
  2. select the appropriate species and cultivar(s) for the site and the objectives,
  3. use proper site preparation and seeding techniques, and
  4. implement careful grazing management.


Seeding Objectives

When is forage needed from dryland pasture? How much forage is needed? One way to answer these questions is to review the current management system. Begin by calculating the monthly demand for forage/feed and then compare it with the monthly supply. The monthly demand for forage and feed should account for all grazing animals, including the brood herd, sires, replacements, offspring, horses and wildlife. The supply should include native rangeland, existing seeded pasture, crop aftermath, hay and grain produced for feed. Forage demand/supply relationships should be evaluated in both short- and long-term plans, allowing for emergency periods such as drought. This process for evaluating forage supply and demand is explained thoroughly in MSU Extension Bulletin EB 101, A Guide for Planning, Analyzing and Balancing Forage Supplies with Livestock Demand.

 

Evaluate a proposed dryland pasture seeding by asking the following questions:

Forage Needs

  • Is my yearlong forage supply adequate? 
  • If not, can dryland pasture provide the additional forage?
  • Is a seeding necessary or can I obtain additional forage in other ways (e.g., purchase, lease or improved management of existing resources)?
  • Do I have special needs such as a breeding or calving pasture?
  • Would the addition of dryland pasture provide opportunities to increase stocking rates or improve grazing management of native rangeland?
  • How many acres of seeded dryland pasture are needed to satisfy foragedemand or to achieve other management objectives?
  • What is the expected longevity of the stand?

 

Site Selection

  • Does the site’s topography and soil depth allow it to be cultivated and planted with a drill? Is it too rough or steep? Is it subject to erosion by wind or water?
  • Is the site accessible to livestock when forage is needed to meet forage demand?
  • Are soils and precipitation adequate to produce the kind or amount of forage needed to meet forage demand?
  • Are there sites with deep soils and ephemeral run-in or ground water toenhance forage yield and reliability?
  • Are there invasive or noxious plants present?

 

Profitability

1. Anticipated benefits 

  • Will the seeding increase livestock production?
  • Will the seeding reduce the need for hay and supplements?
  • Will native plant communities, watershed functions, wildlife habitats or other resources benefit?
  • Will the seeding reduce reliance on forage from leased pasture or rangeland?

 

2. Anticipated costs 

  • What are the costs of establishment (i.e., seedbed preparation, seed and planting)?
  • What is the cost of grazing deferment to allow stand establishment?
  • What are the construction and maintenance costs of additional water facilities and fences that may be needed?
  • What is the cost of implementing a higher management level to optimizeproduction and to lengthen the stand life?
  • Will watershed, wildlife or other resources be adversely affected?

 

3. Cost/benefit analysis

  • Re-examine the seeding objectives if expected costs exceed expected benefits within a selected time frame.
  • Continue the planning process if expected benefits exceed costs.
  • Consider benefit duration (longevity of seeding).

 

Selection of Species and Cultivars

Species differ in their requirements for moisture, nutrients, soils and light. Likewise, species vary in seed germination, establishment and persistence. Species are rated for these attributes in Tables 1-4. Evaluate the following factors to tailor adapted species to site conditions:

 

Soil

  • texture
  • depth
  • organic matter
  • stoniness
  • slope
  • salinity
  • pH
  • alkalinity
  • erosiveness

Moisture

  • mean annual precipitation
  • depth to water table
  • season of precipitation

Indigenous vegetation

Geophysiography

  • topography
  • elevation

Intended use

  • season of growth
  • pasture
  • hay
  • animal nutritional needs

Management intensity

Establishment ease

Stand longevity

Mixture compatibility

 

Season of Use

One criterion for selecting species is their ability to supply forage when it is needed (Tables 1-4). Perennials have different periods of plant growth and different nutritional value and palatability during their growing season and dormant periods. Most cool-season native and introduced grasses can provide forage in spring, summer, fall or winter, depending on their management. Introduced grasses generally are ready for grazing two to three weeks earlier than most native species. Grazing of native rangeland can be deferred when introduced grasses are available for early spring grazing and livestock can be removed from native rangeland earlier in the fall when dryland seeded pastures are available. Introduced species such as Russian wildrye and crested or Siberian wheatgrass are especially well suited for early spring grazing. Altai wildrye and basin wildrye also initiate growth early, but do not tolerate successive early spring grazing. Pubescent and intermediate wheatgrasses are better suited for summer grazing. Russian or Altai wildrye usually provide some regrowth for fall grazing and remain palatable for winter grazing. Altai wildrye is more accessible to animals during winter because it grows more upright than Russian wildrye. Forage kochia, four-winged saltbush or winterfat can be included in mixtures to provide nutritious and palatable forage during late fall and winter.

 

Table 1. Native cool-season grasses for dryland pastures in Montana and Wyoming.

Species
Mini- mum Precip. (in.)
Height/ Growth Type
Ease of Estab- lishment
Seeding Rate PLS*lb/ac
Seeds/sq. ftat 1 lb/ac
Soil Texture
Weed Sup- pres- sion
Acid/Salinity Tolerance
Season of Use
Spring Summer Fall Winter
Sandberg bluegrass 6 v. short/ bunch difficult 2 22 lt., med. poor good/fair x      
Indian ricegrass 6 short/ bunch moderate 6 3.5 lt., med., hvy. poor fair/good   x    
Streambank wheatgrass 6 med./ rhiz. moderate 5 4 med., heavy v. good good/v. good x x x  
Thickspike wheatgrass 7 tall/rhiz. easy 6 3.5 lt., med. excellent good/v. good x x x  
Bluebunch wheatgrass 8 med./ bunch moderate 6 3.5 lt., med. fair good/good x x    
Big bluegrass 9 short/ bunch easy 2 21 lt., med., hvy. good excel./fair x      
Beardless wheatgrass 9 med./ bunch moderate 6 3 lt., med., hvy. fair good/good x x    
Canby bluegrass 10 v. short/ bunch difficult 2 21 lt., med. fair good/fair x      
Slender wheatgrass 10 tall/bunch easy 6 3 med., heavy excellent fair/excel. x x    
Basin wildrye 10 v. tall/ bunch difficult 6 4 med., heavy fair good/good x     x
Western wheatgrass 12 med./ rhiz. moderate 8 2.1 med., heavy excellent fair/v. good   x x  
Green needlegrass 13 tall/bunch difficult 5 4 med., heavy fair poor/good   x x x
Idaho fescue 14 short/ bunch difficult 3 9 lt., med., hvy. fair fair/fair x x x  
Canada wildrye 14 med./ bunch moderate 7 3 lt., med. excellent good/good x x    
Mountain bromegrass 15 med./ bunch easy 10 2 lt., med., hvy. good fair/fair x x    
Blue wildrye 18 tall/bunch easy 7 3 lt., med. v. good v. good/fair   x    

*PLS = pure live seed drilled rate. Abbreviations used above: v. = very; lt. = light; med. = medium; hvy. = heavy; rhiz. = rhizomatous; excel. = excellent

 

 

Table 2. Native warm-season grasses for dryland pastures in Montana and Wyoming.

Species
Mini- mum Precip. (in.)
Height/ Growth Type
Ease of Establish- ment
Seeding RatePLS* lb/ac
Seeds/sq. ft at 1 lb/ac
Soil Texture
Weed Suppres- sion
Acid/Salinity Tolerance
Season of Use
Spring Summer Fall Winter
Blue grama 5 short/ bunch moderate 2 19 med., hvy. excellent poor/fair   x    
Galleta 9 v. short/ rhiz. difficult 4 4 lt., med., hvy. good poor/fair   x    
Little bluestem 12 med./ bunch difficult 4 6 lt., med. poor excel./good   x    
Sideoats grama 12 med./ bunch moderate 5 4 lt., med. fair poor/good   x    
Sand bluestem 12 tall/rhiz. difficult 7 3 lt., med. fair fair/poor   x x  
Prairie sandreed 12 tall/rhiz. moderate 4 6 lt., med. good fair/fair   x x  
Switchgrass 13 tall/rhiz. moderate 3 7 med., heavy good good/fair   x    
Big bluestem 15 tall/ bunch difficult 6 3 med., heavy fair good/good   x x x
Indiangrass 15 tall/rhiz. difficult 5 4 lt., med. fair good/poor   x x  

*PLS = pure live seed drilled rate. Abbreviations used above: v. = very; lt. = light; med. = medium; hvy. = heavy; rhiz. = rhizomatous; excel. = excellent

 

 

Table 3. Introduced grasses for dryland pastures in Montana and Wyoming.

Species
Minimum Precip. (in.)
Height/ Growth Type
Ease of Estab- lishment		 Seeding Rate PLS*lb/ac
Seeds/sq. ft at 1 lb/ac
Soil Texture		 Weed Sup- pres- sion
Acid/ Salinity Tolerance
Season of Use
Spring Summer Fall Winter
Siberian wheatgrass 7 short/bunch easy 5 4 lt., med. good good/good x      
Mammoth wildrye 7 v. tall/rhiz. difficult 15 1 lt., med. fair fair/fair x x x x
Crested wheatgrass 9 med./bunch easy 5 4 med., heavy good good/good x   x  
Russian wildrye 9 tall/bunch difficult 5 4 med., heavy excellent fair/v. good x x x x
Sheep fescue 10 short/bunch moderate 2 16 med., heavy good good/fair   x    
Tall wheatgrass 12 v. tall/bunch easy 10 2 med., heavy excellent fair/excel. x x x  
Pubescent wheatgrass 13 tall/rhiz. easy 10 2 lt., med., hvy. excellent fair/v. good x x x  
Intermediate wheatgrass 14 tall/rhiz. easy 10 2 med., heavy excellent fair/v. good x x x  
Hard fescue 14 short/bunch moderate 2 13 med., heavy v. good good/fair   x    
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