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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Description Growth habit: Annual, generally germinating in
the fall and maturing the following spring, or germinating during the
summer rainy season and maturing by early fall. Extremely variable in
height, mature plants ranging from 5 or 6 inches to 2 feet. Occurrence Primarily in the northern part of the state, being reported from Navajo, Coconino, and Yavapai counties, but is extending its limits southward. This weedy annual, which was introduced from Europe, is most abundant along highways and railroads but is rapidly spreading into adjacent pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine rangelands.
During years of favorable precipitation cheatgrass can
be a valuable forage plant. Like all annuals, however, it is entirely
dependent on the current year’s precipitation for growth and may
be almost worthless in drought years. Analyses of cheatgrass hay indicate
that it has only one-fifth the digestible protein content of average
alfalfa hay. Grazing Management Because cheatgrass matures rapidly and loses much of its
nutritive value on drying, grazing should be concentrated during the
few weeks when it is most actively growing. Unless very heavy grazing
is continued for several years, enough seed normally matures to assure
a good stand the following year.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona