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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A low-growing, rather harsh sodgrass
with tough, scaly, creeping rootstocks.
Occurrence Most common in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Pinal, Yuma,
Cochise, and Pima counties. Usually found on subirrigated alkali flats
or on alkaline soil near springs or stream beds. In Arizona it rarely
occurs above 6,000 feet. Forage Value Although rather harsh, desert saltgrass is usually rated as fair to good forage because it stays green when most other grasses are dry. Growing, as it does, on subirrigated soils, desert saltgrass
can generally be used to best advantage during the spring and fall drought
periods when most of the upland grasses are dry. As it generally grows
along streams or around springs, seeps, or other local wet spots, this
grass is usually grazed as long as it is green. For best production,
however, it should not be grazed closely the year around.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona